Spindle Palm
Scientific Name: Hyophorbe verschaffeltii
Light Requirement: Full sun to partial shade. It performs best in bright, warm locations and can tolerate some light shade, especially when young.
Height: Typically 15–25 ft. tall in Florida landscapes, with a narrow canopy spread of about 6–10 ft.
Plant Spacing: Space about 8–12 ft. apart for single specimens, small groupings, or entryway plantings. Allow enough room around walkways, patios, pool areas, and structures so the trunk and crown can be seen clearly without crowding.
Growth Habit: Slow to moderate-growing, single-trunk feather palm with a smooth gray trunk, swollen midsection, green crownshaft, and graceful arching fronds. It has a clean, sculptural, tropical appearance similar to Bottle Palm but usually grows taller and more slender.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 10b–11; cold sensitive and may be damaged by frost or freezing temperatures; moderately drought tolerant once established but looks best with regular irrigation; low to moderate salt tolerance and best protected from heavy direct coastal salt spray.
Maintenance Info: Low to moderate maintenance. Spindle Palm prefers well-drained soil, warm conditions, and regular palm fertilizer during the growing season. Water regularly during establishment, then reduce watering once rooted. Protect from cold snaps, especially when young. Pruning needs are usually minimal because of its clean crown and slower growth.
Best Uses in the Landscape: Excellent as a specimen palm, entryway accent, pool-area palm, courtyard feature, patio planting, tropical-modern focal point, or small-space palm where a clean, upright tropical look is desired. It works well in warm protected areas where its unique trunk shape can be appreciated.
Plant Info: Spindle Palm is native to the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean, especially Rodrigues Island. The name “Spindle Palm” comes from the swollen shape of the trunk, which resembles an old-fashioned spindle used for spinning thread. Compared to Bottle Palm, Spindle Palm usually has a taller, more stretched form, giving it an elegant tropical look without becoming overly massive in the landscape.
