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Coontie Palm Zamia pumila

Phonetic Spelling
ZAM-ee-uh POO-mil-uh
This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Florida Arrowroot is a low-growing woody plant in the cycad family and is native to Florida. The compound leaves grow from a thick underground stem and unfurl like a fern. It is evergreen and grows 1-3 feet tall and in time will form clumps. This cycad has better cold tolerance than most and can be grown to zone 7b.

This plant prefers sandy to sandy loam soils in full sun to partial shade. It is drought and salt tolerant making it a great plant to use on the coast. Use as a ground cover for a tropical look and as a specimen or foundation plant.

More information on Zamia.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#drought tolerant#specimen#salt tolerant#large leaves#foundation planting#groundcover#cycad#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#tropical feel
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#poisonous#drought tolerant#specimen#salt tolerant#large leaves#foundation planting#groundcover#cycad#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#tropical feel
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Zamia
    Species:
    pumila
    Family:
    Zamiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Greater Antillies, Florida
    Distribution:
    FL, GA
    Wildlife Value:
    Larval host to the Atala butterfly.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No true flowers. Male cones are cylindrical and often clustered. The female cones are elongate-ovoid and reddish. Appear on separate male and female plants.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Rough
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Other/more complex
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Large stiff pinnately compound leaves 2-4 feet long with 5 to 30 pairs of leaflets. Leaflets are linear to lanceolate, 3-9 inches long and 1/2 inch wide.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Design Feature:
    Foundation Planting
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Salt
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Medium
    Poison Symptoms:
    Vomiting (may be bloody), dark stools, headache, stomach pain, jaundice, increased thirst, bloody diarrhea, bruising, liver failure, death. 1-2 seeds can be fatal
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Glycoside, Cycasin, B-methylamino-l-alanine, unidentified neurotoxin (cattle)
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Seeds