Coontie

Although palm-like in appearance, this is a cycad, a primitive group of non-flowering plants. It is listed as commercially exploited by the state of Florida.



Specimen plant or mass planting in border.

Tolerant of inundation with brackish water



Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.

Grows slowly.

Seeds, foliage, and roots are toxic.

Upland hardwood forests, high pine, coastal hammocks, shell middens.

• Interesting foliage
• Larval host for the rare atala butterfly (Eumaeus atala florida) which is restricted to South Florida and the echo moth (Sierarctia echo).