Rhapidophyllum hystrix

(Needle Palm) Very Hardy And Rarely Offered Palm From The SE U.S. – Forms A Dense Clump Of Attractive Evergreen Leaves, Almost Trunkless 5-6’ Tall And Wide; Black Needles On Leaf Sheaths Protect These Plants From Just About Anything! Thrives In Organically Rich, Well Drained, Moist Soil In Part Shade (Full Sun On Cooler Areas With Plenty Of Moisture). Slow Growing.

A cold hardy palm good to Zone 7. A native palm with exceptionally beautiful dark green leaves.It grows well in the shade and it's very cold hardy. The stubbytrunks have needle like spines, hence the common name needle palm.

Wonderful rare species growing amid the cypress swamps of northern Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, and just nipping into South Carolina. This slow growing clumper -- though can reach 10' with multiple offsets -- has a trunk covered with blackish fur and numerous spines and graceful, glossy green leaves on long petioles. An easy plant in the garden; happy in shade to full sun in coastal climates and appreciative of generous summer water. Slow growing where nights are cool. Possibly the hardiest palm with numerous reports of little to no damage at 0 to -10 °F, USDA zone 6, and some of survival as cold as -22 °F, upper USDA zone 4, with only a little protection. Avoid root disturbance when transplanting. Very slow from seed. Ours are 7 years old.