Rhapidophyllum hystrix Medicinal Plants cattleya orchid-like flowers with a

cattleya orchid-like flowers with a dark purple lip are held above the foliage

great for a border in a small garden

so don't bother planting this in the Deep South unless you enjoy it for the foliage

'Arabicus'

imported to the US by plantsman John Elsley in the 1970s

Rhapidophyllum hystrix Medicinal Plants cattleya orchid-like flowers with aThe hardiest of palms, Rhapidophyllum hystrix is a slow growing Southeast US (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina) native that has withstood 9 degrees F here with NO damage (without protection or special siting). We expect established needle palm specimens should handle 20 degrees F. This short trunked, 8' tall x 12' wide, clump forming, hardy palm has typical cut leaf, green palm foliage and sharp "needles" at the base to protect the seeds