The Palm Species at
Hideaway Palmetum
Hideaway Palmetum
Paurotis palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A clustering, fan-leaf palm growing in wet, swampy areas. It forms multi-stemmed clumps up to about 5 m tall, with silver-undersided leaves and orange, armed petioles. It tolerates periodic flooding and is valued in landscape settings for its elegant form.
Native range: Florida (Everglades), Caribbean, Central America, southern Mexico.
Endemic: No.
Cuban belly palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A distinctive palm endemic to Cuba, notable for its “belly” or swollen trunk segments, with spiny petioles and pinnate leaves. Cultivated for its striking form and rarity in collections.
Native range: Cuba.
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Macaw palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall, spiny palm widely distributed across tropical and subtropical America. It has pinnate leaves with spiny petioles and produces oil-rich fruits, sometimes cultivated as a biofuel source.
Native range: Southern Mexico to Paraguay and northern Argentina, also present in the Caribbean.
Endemic: No.
Calappa palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall, robust palm native to New Guinea and nearby islands, with large pinnate leaves and clusters of red fruits. Valued as an ornamental and occasionally used in local construction.
Native range: New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands.
Endemic: No.
Christmas palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A small ornamental palm widely cultivated for its attractive crownshaft and bright red fruit during the holiday season, giving rise to its common name. Popular in tropical landscaping.
Native range: Philippines.
Endemic: Yes, Philippines.
Ruff palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A spiny palm with dense clusters of sharp black spines on the trunk and leaf stems. Often used ornamentally but requires careful handling due to its fierce armature.
Native range: Northern South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador).
Endemic: No.
Tinkling palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A small, clustering palm with spiny stems and delicate fronds. Fruits produce a metallic “tinkling” sound when falling, giving the palm its common name. Sometimes grown ornamentally in the Caribbean.
Native range: Lesser Antilles (Caribbean).
Endemic: Yes, Lesser Antilles.
Seashore palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A low-growing palm adapted to sandy coastal areas, forming clumps with arching leaves. Often used for dune stabilization and as a hardy ornamental in tropical and subtropical gardens.
Native range: Coastal Brazil.
Endemic: Yes, Brazil.
Allagoptera caudescens
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering palm native to Brazil with slender stems and graceful, arching fronds. Grows in open scrub and savanna habitats and sometimes cultivated as an ornamental species.
Native range: Brazil.
Endemic: Yes, Brazil.
Alexander palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall, elegant palm with a smooth green crownshaft and pinnate leaves. Frequently planted in tropical and subtropical landscapes for its fast growth and graceful form.
Native range: Queensland, Australia.
Endemic: Yes, Queensland.
Bangalow palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall palm with a smooth green crownshaft and arching fronds. Commonly used as a street and garden tree in subtropical regions, particularly along the east coast of Australia.
Native range: Eastern Australia (New South Wales, Queensland).
Endemic: Yes, eastern Australia.
Myola palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare palm restricted to small populations in northern Queensland, Australia. Similar to other Archontophoenix species but distinguished by its local distribution and conservation concern.
Native range: Queensland, Australia.
Endemic: Yes, Queensland.
Mount Lewis king palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: Known for the purplish color of its crownshaft, this palm is native to upland rainforests of Queensland. Grown ornamentally for its striking coloration and form.
Native range: Queensland, Australia.
Endemic: Yes, Queensland.
Tucker’s palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall palm native to Queensland rainforests. Similar to other Archontophoenix palms, but with distinctive local distribution. Cultivated for ornamental purposes.
Native range: Queensland, Australia.
Endemic: Yes, Queensland.
Betel nut palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A slender palm cultivated widely across Asia for its seeds (betel nuts), chewed with betel leaf. An economically and culturally important species with tall, smooth trunks.
Native range: Southeast Asia, Malay Peninsula, New Guinea.
Endemic: No.
Dwarf betel nut palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A cultivated dwarf form of the betel nut palm, selected for its shorter stature and easier management in ornamental landscapes.
Native range: Cultivar of Areca catechu (Southeast Asia origin).
Endemic: No (cultivated form).
Areca guppyana
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A lesser-known Areca species with limited range, cultivated occasionally in botanical collections. Displays pinnate fronds and slim stems.
Native range: Solomon Islands.
Endemic: Yes, Solomon Islands.
Areca laosensis
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A palm native to Laos, where it occurs in moist tropical forests. Rarely cultivated outside its range, valued for conservation importance.
Native range: Laos.
Endemic: Yes, Laos.
Areca oxycarpa
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A slender-trunked palm with graceful pinnate leaves, native to Southeast Asia. Rare in cultivation but maintained in collections for conservation.
Native range: Southeast Asia.
Endemic: No.
Areca tunku
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare species from Southeast Asia, grown in some palm collections for its slender form and cultural significance.
Native range: Borneo and surrounding areas.
Endemic: No (Borneo distribution, shared with nearby regions).
Orange crownshaft palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A striking palm distinguished by its orange crownshaft and petioles, highly ornamental in cultivation. Found in Sulawesi and nearby islands.
Native range: Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Endemic: Yes, Sulawesi.
Red crownshaft palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A selected form of Areca vestiaria notable for its deep red crownshaft, cultivated ornamentally. Popular in tropical gardens and collections.
Native range: Cultivar of Sulawesi species.
Endemic: No (cultivated selection).
Clustering fishtail palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A clustering palm with bipinnate leaves resembling fishtails. Grown ornamentally in Southeast Asia and valued for its dense growth habit.
Native range: Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia).
Endemic: No.
Chocho palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A spiny understorey palm with pinnate leaves, common in tropical forests of Mexico and Central America. Fruits are edible and locally utilized.
Native range: Mexico to Honduras.
Endemic: No.
Bentinckia palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare palm with slender stems and feathery fronds, native to the Nicobar Islands. Grown in collections for conservation and ornamental value.
Native range: Nicobar Islands, India.
Endemic: Yes, Nicobar Islands.
Bismarck palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A massive palm with striking silver-blue, fan-shaped leaves. Widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical landscapes for its dramatic appearance.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Burretiokentia hapala
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall, slender palm with a green crownshaft, native to moist rainforests. Cultivated ornamentally in tropical collections.
Native range: New Caledonia.
Endemic: Yes, New Caledonia.
Burretiokentia vieillardii
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A stately palm from humid forests, with ringed stems and a green crownshaft. Maintained in collections for conservation.
Native range: New Caledonia.
Endemic: Yes, New Caledonia.
Calyptrocalyx albertisianus
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering palm with slender canes and red emergent leaves. Grown as an ornamental in tropical collections.
Native range: Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, Papua New Guinea.
Calyptrocalyx hollrungii
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: Small, clustering palm with slender stems and pinnate fronds, found in rainforests of Papua New Guinea.
Native range: Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, Papua New Guinea.
Calyptrocalyx leptostachys
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: Palm with slim, clustering stems and narrow inflorescences. Cultivated in specialty collections, native to rainforests.
Native range: Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, Papua New Guinea.
Calyptrocalyx pachystachys
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rainforest palm from Papua New Guinea with clustering growth and ornamental red-tinted new leaves. Sometimes cultivated.
Native range: Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, Papua New Guinea.
Carpentaria palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A fast-growing palm with slender, tall trunks and long pinnate fronds. Commonly planted as an ornamental street and garden tree in the tropics.
Native range: Northern Australia.
Endemic: Yes, Northern Australia.
Carpoxylon palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall, elegant palm with a swollen base and long feathery fronds, highly ornamental and rare in cultivation. Considered critically endangered in the wild.
Native range: Vanuatu.
Endemic: Yes, Vanuatu.
Cat palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A small, clustering palm with arching fronds, often grown indoors or in shady tropical gardens. It thrives in moist, lowland habitats.
Native range: Mexico and Central America.
Endemic: No.
Fishtail palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering understory palm with broad, fishtail-shaped leaflets. Popular as a houseplant and shade garden ornamental.
Native range: Central America.
Endemic: No.
Miniature fishtail palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A unique palm with single-stem growth and metallic-blue leaves shaped like a fishtail. Valued for indoor and shaded outdoor cultivation.
Native range: Mexico.
Endemic: Yes, Mexico.
Split-leaf miniature fishtail palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A cultivated variant of Chamaedorea metallica, with split leaf tips that enhance its ornamental appeal.
Native range: Mexico (cultivar origin).
Endemic: No (cultivar).
Chamaedorea oblongata
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A slender-stemmed understory palm, little-known in cultivation but present in humid forests of Central America.
Native range: Central America.
Endemic: No.
Bamboo palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A popular houseplant and shade palm with clumping stems resembling bamboo. Grown widely indoors and outdoors in warm regions.
Native range: Mexico and Central America.
Endemic: No.
Chambeyronia oliviformis
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: Palm with a ringed trunk and green crownshaft, endemic to New Caledonia, where it grows in rainforest habitats.
Native range: New Caledonia.
Endemic: Yes, New Caledonia.
Chambeyronia pyriformis
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare species from New Caledonia with slender stems and distinctive pear-shaped fruits. Highly endangered in the wild.
Native range: New Caledonia.
Endemic: Yes, New Caledonia.
Flame thrower palm (watermelon variety)
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: Known for its newly emerging bright red fronds and attractive mottled crownshaft resembling watermelon skin. A striking ornamental palm, endemic to New Caledonia.
Native range: New Caledonia.
Endemic: Yes, New Caledonia.
Hooker’s flame thrower palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A recognized form of the flame thrower palm, with subtle differences in growth habit and frond color intensity. Also endemic to New Caledonia.
Native range: New Caledonia.
Endemic: Yes, New Caledonia.
Chrysalidocarpus carlsmithii
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A lesser-known species of Dypsis/Chrysalidocarpus, cultivated as an ornamental palm. Limited information is available compared to its more popular relatives.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Cabada palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering palm with slender green stems and pinnate fronds, popular in cultivation for hedges and screening. It lacks the golden canes of the common Areca palm.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Chrysalidocarpus lanceolata
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare palm from Madagascar with narrow, lanceolate leaflets. Limited presence in cultivation and threatened in the wild.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Teddy bear palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall, solitary palm with a velvety reddish crownshaft and gracefully arching leaves. Cultivated widely as an ornamental in tropical regions.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Areca palm, butterfly palm, golden cane palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A highly popular clustering palm with bright yellow-green stems and graceful fronds. Extensively used in landscaping and as a houseplant worldwide.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Pemba palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare palm found on Pemba Island, cultivated occasionally for its ornamental value. Related to the popular golden cane palm.
Native range: Pemba Island, Tanzania.
Endemic: Yes, Pemba Island.
Inagua silver thatch palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Compact fan palm with distinct silvery leaf undersides; traditionally used for thatching and weaving on the Inagua islands.
Native range: Bahamas (Great & Little Inagua).
Endemic: Yes, Bahamas.
Hispaniola silver thatch palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Small, slow-growing fan palm with vivid silver-white leaf undersides; ornamental and used locally for craftwork.
Native range: Hispaniola (Dominican Republic, Haiti).
Endemic: Yes, Hispaniola.
Florida silver palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Graceful small fan palm with slender trunk and silvery leaf undersides; native to coastal Florida and nearby islands.
Native range: SE Florida, Bahamas, Cuba.
Endemic: No.
Barbados silver palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Medium-sized fan palm with rigid leaves; widespread in parts of the Lesser Antilles and coastal Venezuela.
Native range: Lesser Antilles, Trinidad, coastal Venezuela.
Endemic: No.
Guano barbudo
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Rare Cuban fan palm with fibrous, “bearded” leaf bases; highly localized and conservation-sensitive.
Native range: Cuba (Matanzas Province).
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Clarens silver palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Small Cuban fan palm with neat crown and silvery undersides; occurs in the central-eastern parts of the island.
Native range: Cuba (Holguín, Camagüey region).
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Old man palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Distinctive Cuban palm with shaggy, fibrous trunk “beard”; slow-growing and prized ornamentally.
Native range: Western Cuba.
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Guantánamo silver palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Localized fan palm of far-eastern Cuba; upright habit with bright, reflective leaf undersides.
Native range: Cuba (Guantánamo region).
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Broad-leaved silver palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Cuban fan palm notable for its broader segments compared to related species; cultivated as an ornamental.
Native range: Cuba.
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Miraguama palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: Classic Cuban silver palm complex with multiple subspecies; historically valued for fiber and thatch.
Native range: Cuba.
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Rose-fruited miraguama palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A subspecies of C. miraguama, notable for its distinctive rose-colored fruit; restricted to Cuba.
Native range: Cuba.
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Hispaniola mountain palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A fan palm restricted to mountainous regions of Hispaniola; adapted to rocky slopes and drier conditions.
Native range: Hispaniola (Dominican Republic, Haiti).
Endemic: Yes, Hispaniola.
Panama tall coconut
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall-growing cultivar of coconut palm, widely planted for copra, ornamental use, and coastal stabilization; resistant to some diseases compared with dwarf forms.
Native range: Cultivated worldwide; origin uncertain (Indo-Pacific).
Endemic: No.
Yellow Malayan dwarf coconut
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A dwarf coconut cultivar with yellow-green crownshafts and shorter stature, valued for early fruiting and suitability in smaller landscapes.
Native range: Cultivated worldwide; origin in Malayan Peninsula.
Endemic: No (cultivar).
Gebang palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A large fan palm with massive leaves, cultivated and used traditionally for thatching and sugar extraction from the sap. Also known as Corypha utan.
Native range: Tropical Asia to Northern Australia.
Endemic: No.
New Caledonia cyphosperma
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare, slender palm with pinnate leaves and green crownshaft, restricted to humid forests of New Caledonia.
Native range: New Caledonia.
Endemic: Yes, New Caledonia.
Cryosophila warscewiczii
Common name: Root spine palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A medium-sized understory palm with distinctive white root spines and fan-shaped leaves, valued as an ornamental curiosity.
Native range: Central America (from southern Mexico to Honduras).
Endemic: No.
Sealing wax palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A striking clustering palm known for its brilliant scarlet crownshafts and leaf stalks, highly sought after in tropical landscaping.
Native range: Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, and New Guinea.
Endemic: No.
Deckenia nobilis
Common name: Palmiste marron
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare solitary palm with spiny leaf bases, endemic to the granitic islands of Seychelles; formerly threatened by overharvesting.
Native range: Seychelles.
Endemic: Yes, Seychelles.
Hurricane palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A graceful ornamental palm with a slender trunk and feathery fronds, native to the Mascarene Islands. It is wind-resistant and widely planted in the tropics.
Native range: Mascarene Islands (Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues).
Endemic: Yes, Mascarenes.
Olive fruit palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A slender palm with clustered stems and glossy green leaves; fruits are small and olive-like, giving the species its name.
Native range: New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, New Guinea.
Triangle palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A striking palm with a unique triangular stem arrangement of its fronds, creating three vertical ranks. Popular as an ornamental specimen.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Maroantsetra dypsis
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: An undescribed Dypsis species from the Maroantsetra region, known in horticulture for its rarity and graceful pinnate fronds.
Native range: Madagascar (Maroantsetra).
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
African oil palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A highly significant palm cultivated worldwide for palm oil, with massive pinnate fronds and clusters of oil-rich fruits.
Native range: West and Central Africa.
Endemic: No.
Puerto Rican gaussia
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A slender palm adapted to karst limestone hills of Puerto Rico, with smooth gray trunk and graceful fronds.
Native range: Puerto Rico.
Endemic: Yes, Puerto Rico.
Gaussia gomez-pompae
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A lesser-known species of Gaussia with clustering habit, described from Mexico and noted for adaptation to limestone soils.
Native range: Mexico (Yucatán Peninsula).
Endemic: Yes, Yucatán Peninsula.
Palma de sierra
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare, slender palm with bright green pinnate leaves, native to steep limestone hills of Cuba.
Native range: Cuba.
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Cuban blue palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A small fan palm notable for its bluish leaves and growth on exposed limestone outcrops in Cuba. Rare and highly localized.
Native range: Cuba.
Endemic: Yes, Cuba.
Heterospathe palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering palm with slender trunks and arching fronds, grown ornamentally in tropical gardens. Fruits are bright red when mature.
Native range: Philippines.
Endemic: Yes, Philippines.
Hydriastele beguinii
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall rainforest palm with smooth gray trunk and feathery crownshaft. Adapted to humid lowland habitats of New Guinea.
Native range: New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, New Guinea.
Bottle palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A small ornamental palm with a swollen, bottle-shaped trunk and arching pinnate leaves. Widely grown in tropical and subtropical gardens.
Native range: Mascarene Islands (Round Island, Mauritius).
Endemic: Yes, Round Island.
Spindle palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: An elegant palm with spindle-shaped trunk and graceful arching fronds. Valued ornamentally and closely related to the bottle palm.
Native range: Mascarene Islands (Rodrigues).
Endemic: Yes, Rodrigues Island.
Doum palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A branching palm with multiple heads, producing edible oval fruits. An important species in arid and semi-arid regions of East Africa.
Native range: East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia).
Endemic: No.
Itaya palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare palm with broad leaflets and clustering habit, discovered in the Peruvian Amazon and cultivated for conservation interest.
Native range: Peru.
Endemic: Yes, Peru.
Red latan palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A robust fan palm with large leaves and reddish leaf bases in youth. An ornamental species also important for conservation.
Native range: Réunion (Mascarene Islands).
Endemic: Yes, Réunion.
Key thatch palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A small fan palm native to the Florida Keys and the Caribbean, used traditionally for thatching. Previously grouped under Thrinax.
Native range: Florida Keys, Bahamas, Greater Antilles.
Endemic: No.
Ruffled fan palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: An ornamental fan palm with perfectly circular, pleated leaves. Very popular in tropical landscaping and houseplant trade.
Native range: Vanuatu.
Endemic: Yes, Vanuatu.
Mapu fan palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A rare ornamental palm with mottled leaves marked in yellow and green, highly prized by collectors.
Native range: Borneo.
Endemic: Yes, Borneo.
Spiny licuala palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A clustering fan palm with spiny petioles and attractive rounded leaves, often growing in swampy or wetland habitats.
Native range: Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Borneo, Philippines).
Endemic: No.
Kalimantan mottled licuala
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A rare ornamental licuala with dramatic mottled foliage, native to Kalimantan. Highly prized in collections.
Native range: Kalimantan (Borneo, Indonesia).
Endemic: Yes, Kalimantan.
Veitch’s palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall palm with prominent crownshaft and arching fronds, rare in cultivation but striking in form.
Native range: Fiji.
Endemic: Yes, Fiji.
Nephrosperma palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A solitary palm with slender trunk and feathery leaves, native to the Seychelles and threatened by habitat loss.
Native range: Seychelles.
Endemic: Yes, Seychelles.
Black palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall palm with smooth, dark trunk and glossy pinnate leaves. Traditionally used by Aboriginal Australians for food and tools.
Native range: Queensland, Australia.
Endemic: Yes, Queensland.
Pelagodoxa palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare and beautiful palm with broad leaves, considered highly ornamental. Cultivated in specialty collections.
Native range: Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia).
Endemic: Yes, Marquesas Islands.
Thief palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A solitary palm with large, red-tinted leaves, endemic to the Seychelles. Named "thief palm" from historic accounts of stealing leaves for roofing.
Native range: Seychelles.
Endemic: Yes, Seychelles.
Pygmy date palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A small ornamental date palm with graceful arching leaves, widely planted in tropical and subtropical regions. Known for compact growth habit.
Native range: Laos, Vietnam, southern China.
Endemic: No.
Ivory cane palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering understory palm with slender canes and glossy green leaves. Fruits ripen red, cultivated as an ornamental.
Native range: Indonesia (Java, Sumatra, Bali).
Endemic: No.
Thai mottled pinanga
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: An ornamental palm with striking mottled foliage, popular with collectors and suited for shade cultivation.
Native range: Thailand.
Endemic: Yes, Thailand.
Yellow crownshaft pinanga
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare ornamental pinanga with yellow crownshaft, cultivated in collections for its distinctive color.
Native range: Southeast Asia.
Endemic: No.
Fiji fan palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A handsome fan palm with broad, round leaves, commonly used in ornamental plantings across the Pacific. It is also culturally significant in Fiji.
Native range: Fiji.
Endemic: Yes, Fiji.
Nihoa fan palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A rare and endangered fan palm endemic to Nihoa Island, Hawaii. Notable for its stiff fan leaves and isolated distribution.
Native range: Nihoa Island, Hawaiian Islands.
Endemic: Yes, Hawaii (Nihoa Island).
Buccaneer palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A slow-growing palm with a solitary, stout trunk and pinnate leaves. Known for its tolerance of coastal conditions and endangered status in parts of its range.
Native range: Florida Keys, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America.
Endemic: No.
Wine palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A palm native to Hispaniola, historically tapped for its sap to make palm wine, which has led to population decline. It has a swollen trunk base and pinnate fronds.
Native range: Hispaniola (Dominican Republic, Haiti).
Endemic: Yes, Hispaniola.
Fish-tail palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering palm with fishtail-shaped leaflets, resembling those of Caryota, hence the name. Grown as an ornamental palm.
Native range: New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, New Guinea.
Solitaire palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A slender, solitary palm commonly planted as an ornamental in the tropics and subtropics. It has graceful pinnate leaves and clusters of red fruits.
Native range: Queensland, Australia.
Endemic: Yes, Queensland.
Furcate palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare palm with bifurcated (split) leaflets, unique among its genus. Rarely seen in cultivation.
Native range: Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, Papua New Guinea.
Lauterbach’s palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering palm with slender stems and pinnate fronds, sometimes cultivated in botanical collections.
Native range: Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, Papua New Guinea.
MacArthur palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A clustering ornamental palm with slender stems and graceful pinnate fronds. Named after Sir William Macarthur of Australia. Widely grown in cultivation.
Native range: Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: No.
Solomon Islands palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A palm native to the Solomon Islands, cultivated in limited collections outside its range. It has slender stems and pinnate leaves.
Native range: Solomon Islands.
Endemic: Yes, Solomon Islands.
Scheffer’s palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A rare palm of New Guinea, sometimes recognized by its elegant fronds and limited presence in collections. Poorly known in cultivation.
Native range: Papua New Guinea.
Endemic: Yes, Papua New Guinea.
Sabinaria palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A striking, recently described palm known for its large, deeply divided leaves that resemble butterfly wings. Highly ornamental but rare in cultivation.
Native range: Colombia–Panama border region.
Endemic: Yes, Darien Gap region.
Satake palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall, elegant palm with smooth gray trunk and arching fronds, cultivated for its striking appearance in subtropical gardens.
Native range: Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands, Yaeyama group (Japan).
Endemic: Yes, Japan (Yaeyama Islands).
Schippia palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A small fan palm with slender stems and simple inflorescences. Rare in cultivation, but important as part of Central American palm flora.
Native range: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras.
Endemic: No.
Saw palmetto
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A low-growing, clumping fan palm with creeping stems and sharp leaf petioles. It is ecologically important in Florida scrub habitats and widely known for its medicinal berries.
Native range: Southeastern United States (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi).
Endemic: No.
Florida thatch palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A graceful fan palm with slender trunk and rounded leaves, valued for thatching and ornamental use in coastal landscapes. Naturally salt-tolerant and resilient to storms.
Native range: Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean, Central America.
Endemic: No.
Veitchia palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A tall ornamental palm with smooth gray trunk and feathery crownshafted leaves, cultivated for its elegant form in tropical landscapes.
Native range: Vanuatu.
Endemic: Yes, Vanuatu.
Veitchia spiralis palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A robust palm with arching, spiral-arranged fronds and a straight, solitary trunk. Rare in cultivation but admired for its striking habit.
Native range: Vanuatu.
Endemic: Yes, Vanuatu.
Fiji veitchia palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Description: A palm native to Fiji with a crownshaft and pinnate leaves, planted ornamentally in Pacific landscapes. Distinct for its regional adaptation and upright form.
Native range: Fiji.
Endemic: Yes, Fiji.
Vonitra palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A tall palm with fan-shaped leaves and strong trunks, native to Madagascar. It is sometimes used locally for construction materials.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Vonitra palm (fibrous)
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A closely related species to Vonitra utilis, noted for its fibrous trunk material and fan leaves. Grows in drier habitats of Madagascar.
Native range: Madagascar.
Endemic: Yes, Madagascar.
Zombi palm
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Description: A clustering fan palm with spiny stems, forming dense thickets. Known for its striking silhouette and resilience in Caribbean climates.
Native range: Hispaniola (Dominican Republic, Haiti).
Endemic: Yes, Hispaniola.