Old Man Palm

Coccothrinax crinita Becc.

co-co-THRY-nax  CRIN-ah-tah

Arecaceae

Explanation of name: For Coccothirnax, see Coccothrinax argentata. Crinita means long-haired (JON).

Natural range: Cuba  Seasonally flooded savanna, grasslands, hillsides (MEE, RI2)

Recognition: Short, palmate-leaved, single-trunked palm with distinctive beard-covered trunk. Can not be confused with any other South Florida palm. See C. argentata for comparison of Coccothrinax species.

Landscape uses: This is a small, single-trunked, slow-growing palm outstanding for the long fibrous beard covering its trunk. It is an “oh my” specimen tree. You use it by handing visitors a beverage and escorting them to the back yard to “see my Old Man Palm.” Students have been known to remark “this palm looks like Cousin It” from the Adams Family, with apologies for those too young to relate to this analogy. Sometimes grown in containers. ELL notes germination in 3-5 months.