Needle Palm: A Cold-Hardy Palm with Hot Points

Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix)

Gardeners are known for returning home with botanical souvenirs. Many of the plants are doomed (they know it before they buy them) but can’t resist. If you want a memento of the subtropics in your own back yard, and you want it to thrive, try Needle Palm.

Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix), native to Florida and other areas of the southeast, is reliably cold-hardy through USDA climate zone 7. Some growers report success in colder areas. It’s more like a shrub than tree, with a dense, mounding habit, growing about twice as wide as its height. The typical size of a mature Needle Palm is four to six feet high by eight to twelve feet wide.

Needle palm foliage

Needle Palm is fairly uncommon even in its native habitat. Outside of that, you’ll own bragging rights for miles around.

Don’t let its name put you off. The evergreen, cut-leaf fronds are not harmful. In fact, the tips of the leaflets are blunt, as though they had been snipped. The long, sharp needles are at the base of the plant protecting the inconspicuous flowers and fruit.

Needle palm needles

The needles do offer a significant benefit, however. They discourage through-traffic. Intruders who encounter them will get the point and hotfoot it out of there. If you're looking for a plant that offers a degree of crime prevention - call it "homeland security"- this is the palm for you.

Needle Palm prefers slightly moist, well-drained soil. Nevertheless, it is somewhat drought-tolerant when established. Space 6 feet to 10 feet apart in full sun to light shade. Soil should be moist to well-drained, pH from 6.1 to 7.8. Allow soil to dry between watering.

Pruning can be done at any time to remove damaged fronds. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer from late spring to midsummer. Needle Palm is very resistant to insects and disease, deer resistant and salt tolerant.

Needle Palm is excellent for native plant collections, coastal and tropical gardens, screens and hedges. Suitable native companion plants include Cut-leaf Coneflower, Goldenrod, Wax Myrtle, Inkberry Holly, Red Buckeye, Sensitive Fern, Allegheny Pachysandra, and Partridge Berry.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

They don't call it Prickly Pear for nothin'.

Photo of Prickly Pear cactus flower

Opuntia ficus-indica (aka Smooth Mountain Prickly Pear, Indian Fig, Mission Cactus, Tuberous Prickly Pear, Nopal) is a perennial, evergreen cactus probably native to Mexico, but is found growing in many arid, warmer climates around the world. It grows from 4 to 20 feet tall, depending on growing conditions. It forms clumps of flattened pads, which are actually modified stems. Its pads are medium to grayish green. Clusters of sharp hairs known as glochids appear on the pads. The flowers are bright yellow, lasting for only one day. Fruit is pear-shaped, fleshy, and purple when mature. The pulp is reddish-purple with tiny, brownish seeds.

 

Opuntia ficus-indica fruit

Opuntia likes dry, well-drained, and sandy to rocky soil. It prefers full sun, tolerates heat and some cold, and will take some light shade.

The plant is cultivated for its fruits and pads which are used for food, medicine, condiments and beverages. Foods include nopalitos, prickly pear honey, prickly pear cheese, colonche – a fermented drink. Medicinal uses are said to include tea for kidney disease, flower paste for measles, and cancer treatment.

Prickly Pear has also been used for cattle feed. Large hedge-rows have been used for fencing, marking boundaries, and discouraging intruders.

Name(s): Opuntia ficus-indica, Smooth Mountain Prickly Pear, Indian Fig, Mission Cactus, Tuberous Prickly Pear, Nopal

Flower Color: Yellow.

Bloom Time: Spring

Foliage: Succulent, paddle/pear-shaped modified stems.

Height/Spread: 4 feet to 20 feet x 5 to 10 feet.

Climate Zones: 8, 9, 10

Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil Condition: Well-drained to dry, pH 6.1 to 7.7

Features: Drought tolerant, sculptural form, large yellow flowers, edible fruit and foliage.

Uses: Xeriscaping, succulent gardens, edible gardens, medicinal gardens, rock gardens, home security.

Comments: When planted as a hedge, Prickly Pear makes one helluva barrier against intruders. Planted around the home they are superb for homeland security.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.

Ten Simple Landscaping Ideas for Home/Land Security

Homeland security is in the news every day, but the problems seem so far away. Beside, we never expect violence in our own backyards. 

Don’t think it can’t happen to you. 

According to the FBI “there were an estimated 1,579,527 burglaries in 2015. Burglaries of residential properties accounted for 71.6 percent of all burglary offenses. Victims of burglary offenses suffered an estimated $3.6 billion in property losses in 2015. The average dollar loss per burglary offense was $2,316.”

Most residential burglaries happen during the day when homeowners are away. There are more break-ins during summer months. The majorities are forced entry, but unlocked windows and doors make it easier.

Top items targeted are cash, electronics, jewelry, medications, firearms, tools, liquor, documents that facilitate identity theft, cars, bikes and such.

That’s scary. But did you know there are simple landscaping steps you can take to improve your home security against intruders?

Here are ten safety precautions:

1. Choose low-growing foundation and border shrubs.
2. Prune foundation shrubs to 3 feet high.
3.  Use thorny plants for hedges, near windows and entrances.
4. Avoid planting tall shrubs near garage and other entrances.
5. Avoid planting trees next to the house.
6. Do not construct sturdy trellises near the house that could be climbed.
7. Lock up ladders and tools that could be used to gain entry.
8. Use small gravel near the foundation to make noise when stepped upon.
9.  Make sure you provide a clear view of your house from the road.
10. Install night lighting around your home.

Keep these ideas in mind to make your home a safer place for yourself and your family.

What is this growing in the back of my yard? Someone said it's a "Devil's Walking Stick."

Aralia spinosa - Devil's Walking Stick

Devil’s Walking Stick (Aralia spinosa) – aka “Hercule’s Club” and “Angelica Tree” – is a mighty impressive native American plant. Six words – devil’s, stick, spinosa, Hercules, club and Angelica – should complete the picture. It grows in USDA climate zones 4-9 in slightly acidic to neutral soil with full to partial sun exposure.

There are some fascinating facts you should know about Aralia spinosa.

• It should not be confused with False Aralia (Dizygotheca elegantissima) - pronounced "dizzygoTHEEKa" - though it might compare with the inelegant Dizzygoths some raise in their homes;
• It is covered head-to-toe with nasty, fiery spines;
• It is frightening, in its own way;
• The name “Hercules Club” was probably given by some literate person who knew the awesome legend of Hercules and of the sculpture of Hercules with his club;
• Species in the Angelica family often bear flowers with heavenly fragrances;
• According to Wikipedia, “The sprinkling of it all around the outside of the home is meant for protection”;
• If you cultivate Aralia spinosa around the perimeter of your garden, few trespassers will dare to enter;
• Aralia spinosa is maintenance-free, needing no pruning;
• Dizzygoths, however, should be pruned low and very often.

Return to GoGardenNow.com.