Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Palm or Cycad
Cactus or Succulent, Ornamental Plants, Perennial
Origin
United States, Southeastern United States
Madagascar
Types
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
P. ambongense P. baronii P. bicolor P. bispinosum P. brevicaule P. cactipes P. decaryi P. densiflorum P. eburneum P. geayi P. gracilius
Number of Varieties
15192
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cold Regions, Subtropical climates
Rocky areas, Tropical areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-109-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-6
12-10
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
H1, H2, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Yellow, Lavender
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Dark Red, Brown, Sienna
Gray Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Needle like
Long Narrow
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs small amount of water
Drought Tolerant, Reduce watering in winter
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, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Moist, Sand, Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune in winter, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, fertilize in early summer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Dry root rot
Plant Tolerance
Cold climate, Frost
Drought
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Rabbits, Small mammals
-
Allergy
drowsiness, Scratches
poisonous if ingested, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
bank hedging, Ornamental use
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Borders, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Ethnobotanic
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Frostbite
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
-
Other Uses
Application in Handicrafts, Showy Purposes
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
RHAPIDOPHYLLUM hystrix
PACHYPODIUM lamerei
Common Name
Needle Palm, Porcupine plant
Madagascar Palm, Club Foot
In Hindi
सुई ताड़
Madagascar palm
In German
Nadel -Palme
Madagaskarpalme
In French
palmier aiguille
Pachypodium de Madagascar
In Spanish
palmera aguja
Palma de Madagascar
In Greek
βελόνα φοίνικα
Pachypodium
In Portuguese
palmeira agulha
Palmeirinha-de-madagáscar, Palmeira-de-madagáscar
In Polish
Igła palma
Pachypodium
In Latin
acus palma
Mandacaru
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Dicotyledonae
Order
Arecales
Gentianales
Family
Arecaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Rhapidophyllum
pachypodium
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Corypheae
Malouetieae
Subfamily
Coryphoideae
Apocynoideae
Number of Species
1025
1
27800
👆🏻