This suckering fan palm has multiple slender trunks up to 100mm (4in) thick, covered in intricate fibrous leaf bases. It has bright green segmented rounded fronds that are silvery underneath and the small white flowers appear in upright clusters in summer.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Acoelorrhaphe wrightiiis naturally found in North America from Florida to tropical and sub tropical Mexico, Central America and extending to the West Indies. It is commonly growing in swamps or coastal areas that become seasonally inundated with brackish water, but may also be found in drier soils in woodlands.

It prefers a poor to moderately drained, moist organic rich sandy to clay loam and grows in an open sunny to semi shaded position and although it is a water loving plant it tolerates drought, but is frost tender.

The Paurotis Palm is grown for its attractive clumping habit and its silvery foliage. It is planted in parks and large gardens as a specimen adding a tropical effect or used as an understorey in a moist setting. It is suitable for coastal regions establishing in 3 to 5 years from division and can be grown in pots when young. It is also used along watercourses in a tropical setting and is moderately salt tolerant. ID 2279

Acoelorrhaphe(a-seel-o-RAY-fee) wrightii(RYT-ee-eye)

Arecaceae(ar-ek-AY-see-ee)     
(Palmae)
Palm Family