Outdoor verdict
Florida thatch palm lives outside only in a mild winter, about 28F (USDA 10a+). A real freeze marks it. If your winter drops below that, skip it. Do not wrap a tropical and hope.
The native south Florida thatch. USDA 10a to 11, a slim fan for Keys and coastal limestone, not a cabbage palmetto and not a coconut.
Cold hardiness
Survives about 28°F / -2°C. Outdoor range USDA 10a–11b. Hover or click a zone, state, or country. Click a state to open palms that grow there.
Highlighted USDA zones 10a–11b. Green countries can be grown outdoors.
United States
In range Too cold
World
Native Can be grown
Alaska and Hawaii are state outlines with their overall zone range. A country is painted if its mildest inhabited winter is at least one USDA step milder than this palm’s hardiness.
Winter care
Drainage matters more than a blanket. Soil: Any well-drained soil. Water: Water when the top inch is dry (mesic to xeric). Wrapping does not buy an extra zone. If the winter is colder than the kill number, keep it in a pot.
Scientific facts
- Native in south Florida and the Caribbean.
- Key thatch is Leucothrinax morrisii, usually smaller, with different leaf bases.
- Salt-tolerant compared with many feather palms.
Region of origin
South Florida, the Caribbean, and adjacent Mexico to Nicaragua
Native countries
Historical discovery
Loddiges material was published by Schultes and Schultes f. in 1830. It is a native south Florida thatch palm, split from Key thatch (Leucothrinax morrisii).
Names
Common names
Florida thatch palm, Silk-top thatch palm, Thatch palm
Synonyms
- None widely used
Full care guide
Florida thatch palm is Thrinax radiata, a native slim fan of the Keys, south Florida coasts, and the Caribbean. USDA 10a to 11. It is not cabbage palmetto and not coconut. Limestone, salt air, and sun are the natural setting.
Growth Rate:
Slow to moderate.
Fruit and Flowering:
Small white fruit on mature trees.
Light Requirements:
Full sun. It takes some light shade.
Water Requirements:
Regular water to establish. Mature coastal plants take short dry spells.
Maintenance Level:
Low. Feed in the growing season with palm-specific fertilizer in sand. Do not overprune the head.
Common Diseases/Pests:
Scale and weevils on stressed transplants. Salt is less of a problem than on a queen palm.
Plant Care:
Sun, drainage, south Florida or similar. Use this when you want a native thatch, not a coconut. Use cabbage palmetto farther north on the coastal plain.
Florida thatch palm Frequently Asked Questions:
Plant Florida thatch on south Florida limestone and similar coasts when you want the native slim fan. Farther north, cabbage palmetto is the sabal that still makes sense.
Florida thatch palm questions
Will Florida thatch palm live outside?
Yes, if winter stays above about 28F (USDA 10a+). Below that number it belongs in a pot.
What do nurseries mislabel Florida thatch palm as?
Common names wander. The accepted name is Thrinax radiata. Read the Latin on the tag before you buy.
Pot or ground for Florida thatch palm in a cold state?
Ground where winter stays above about 28F. A pot does not make a cold-tender palm hardy. Skip it if the number fails.
Florida thatch or Key thatch?
Florida thatch is Thrinax radiata. Key thatch is Leucothrinax morrisii, usually smaller, with a different leaf-base split.
Thatch or silver palm?
Silver palm is Coccothrinax argentata, with a more silver leaf underside and a different trunk.
Can I grow it in Orlando?
Orlando is the cold edge. South Florida and the Keys are the comfortable range.
Is it salt tolerant?
Yes, for a native coastal fan. Still water it while it establishes.
Related palms
The mix-up, the substitute, then nearby hardiness.
