Needle palm
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Needle palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
24"–72" H × 36"–96" W
Bloom
Apr, May
Native to
AL, FL, GA, MS and 1 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Cold-hardy, trunkless clumping palm with stiff dark green fan-shaped fronds and long sharp needle-like spines at the base of each leaf, forming a dense evergreen clump in shaded woodland understories.
Wildlife value
Dense evergreen fronds provide year-round cover for birds and small wildlife, and the inconspicuous flowers attract small pollinating insects.
Common questions
- How much sun does Needle palm need?
- Needle palm grows best in part shade conditions.
- When does Needle palm bloom?
- Needle palm blooms in April and May.
- Where is Needle palm native?
- Needle palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) is native to AL, FL, GA, MS and 1 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Needle palm attract?
- Needle palm draws bees and beetles.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Needle palm? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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