Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Palm or Cycad
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
United States, Southeastern United States
Argentina, Chile
Types
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
-
Number of Varieties
152
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cold Regions, Subtropical climates
Hardwood forests, pine woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-107-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-6
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Clump-Forming
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Yellow, Lavender
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Dark Red, Brown, Sienna
White, Purple, Rose, Violet, Plum, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Dark Green, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Needle like
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Semi-hardwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs small amount of water
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Average
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Bacterial fruit blotch, Downy mildew, Gall Insects, Mites, Powdery mildew
Plant Tolerance
Cold climate, Frost
Drought, Shade areas
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Rabbits, Small mammals
Birds, Insects
Allergy
drowsiness, Scratches
Hives, inflammation in lips, Sore Throat, Swelling in the face
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
bank hedging, Ornamental use
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Glowing Skin, Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Ethnobotanic
Food for animals, Food for birds
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Frostbite
Analgesic, Anodyne, Antirheumatic, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Carminative
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Fruits, Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Application in Handicrafts, Showy Purposes
For making oil, For making oil for cosmetics, Medicinal oil, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Edging, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
RHAPIDOPHYLLUM hystrix
Gaultheria procumbens
Common Name
Needle Palm, Porcupine plant
Eastern teaberry, checkerberry, American wintergreen
In Hindi
सुई ताड़
boxberry
In German
Nadel -Palme
boxberry
In French
palmier aiguille
boxberry
In Spanish
palmera aguja
boxberry
In Greek
βελόνα φοίνικα
boxberry
In Portuguese
palmeira agulha
boxberry
In Polish
Igła palma
boxberry
In Latin
acus palma
Burning
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Arecales
Ericales
Family
Arecaceae
Ericaceae
Genus
Rhapidophyllum
Gaultheria
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Corypheae
Gaultherieae
Subfamily
Coryphoideae
Vaccinioideae
Number of Species
10141
1
27800
👆🏻