Coontie

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; tolerates bright shade, where growth is usually more open.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, allowing the soil to dry somewhat between waterings. Established plants tolerate drought; avoid persistently wet soil.

Soil

Well-drained sandy or gravelly soil; tolerates acidic to alkaline conditions. Use a freely draining potting mix in containers.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)

Foliage

Evergreen. Dark green, glossy, feather-like leaves with firm, narrow leaflets. Male and female cones form on separate plants; female cones release seeds with orange-red fleshy coverings.

Growth

Slow

Care needed

Low

• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.7 ft (0.53 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.8 ft (0.56 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.9 ft (0.59 m)

5. After 5 years

   2.2 ft (0.66 m)

About 8 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant with the crown at its original soil level; do not bury it beneath soil or mulch.
• Water new plants deeply when the root zone begins to dry; reduce watering once established.
• Keep mulch clear of the crown and maintain sharp drainage, especially during winter.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth or soil conditions warrant it; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Move containers into bright, frost-free shelter before freezing weather and water sparingly over winter.

Pruning. Remove fully brown or damaged leaves at their bases with clean secateurs, preferably after the risk of frost has passed. Keep healthy green leaves and do not shear the plant or cut into its crown.

Spring

Plant or repot once freezing weather has passed, using a well-drained site or container mix.

Late spring

Remove winter-damaged leaves once their condition is clear; feed lightly if needed.

Summer

Check leaf undersides for scale insects and water establishing plants during dry spells.

Autumn

Collect fallen seeds promptly where children or animals could reach them.

Late autumn

Bring container plants into frost-free shelter in cold climates.

Winter

Keep sheltered plants on the dry side and protect outdoor crowns from prolonged wet conditions.

• Repeat small groups along warm-climate paths for a low, structured evergreen edge.
• Plant beneath open-canopied trees with shade-tolerant groundcovers for contrasting leaf textures.
• Use in gravel beds with drought-tolerant plants that share its need for drainage.
• Grow as a container specimen on a sheltered patio, allowing room for the arching leaves.
• Include in Florida native gardens as a larval host for the atala butterfly.

Garden styles it suits: Florida subtropical, Modern tropical, Architectural minimal, Coastal, Low-maintenance and Wildlife garden.

Plant it with: Muhly grass, Dwarf yaupon holly, Firebush, Saw palmetto, Sunshine mimosa and Cast-iron plant.

Wildlife: An important larval host for the atala butterfly in southern Florida. Its cones are pollinated by specialist beetles rather than bees; it is not a nectar plant.

• Scale insects, including cycad aulacaspis scale: inspect leaf undersides and bases for white crusts; treat with a labelled horticultural oil and repeat as directed. Seek local advice for severe infestations.
• Root or crown rot: prevent standing water, reduce irrigation and improve drainage; badly rotted plants may not recover.
• Cold-browned foliage: protect during hard freezes and wait until spring to remove dead leaves; surviving crowns can produce new growth.
• Atala caterpillar feeding in Florida: caterpillars can strip leaves, but established plants often recover; tolerate feeding where supporting the butterfly is a priority.

Highly toxic to people, dogs, cats and horses if eaten. All parts are poisonous, especially the seeds, and ingestion can cause severe liver damage and death. Keep plants and fallen seeds away from children and animals; suspected ingestion requires immediate medical or veterinary attention. The historical name Florida arrowroot does not mean it is safe to eat.

• Cardboard palm (Zamia furfuracea)

  Has much broader, thicker, often fuzzy leaflets with a cardboard-like texture; coontie has narrower, smoother leaflets.

• Sago palm (Cycas revoluta)

  Usually develops a conspicuous trunk and a dense crown of stiff leaves with many very narrow, sharp-pointed leaflets; coontie stays lower and has broader leaflets.

The epithet integrifolia means 'entire-leaved', referring to the smooth, untoothed margins of its leaflets.

Propagation. Usually grown from seed, which may take several months or longer to germinate and develops slowly. Wear gloves when handling seeds, keep them away from children and pets, and sow in a warm, freely draining medium.

Accepted botanical name

Zamia integrifolia

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states and Puerto Rico.

Native range

Bahamas, Cayman Is., Cuba, Florida and Georgia.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.