Coccothrinax argentea

Coccothrinax argentea
Hispaniola Silver Thatch Palm

Commonly seen on the Island of Hispaniola, this pretty palm sports a solitary or rarely clustered, slender, smooth trunk to 10 m (33 ft.) tall. Its circular, fan-shaped leaves are dark green above and beautifully silvery below, most showy when they slowly move in a light breeze. In its native range it is found in open areas or pine woodland on rocky, calcareous soils, and also frequently in disturbed areas, where it spreads freely. It adapts readily to cultivation in warm temperate and tropical areas and can take some coastal exposure.

germination comments by our visitors
For general germination instructions click here.

Also see plant cultivation comments below.

Seeds from this species ...

... are easy to germinate and need up to 1 month to sprout.
I placed several mature seeds of this species that I acquired in the Dominican Republic in ziploc freezer bags with moist spaghnum moss, pressed out most of the air before sealing, and kept them in a warm (28C) area of the house and out of direct sunlight. After about 2 weeks, some (approx 60%) had sprouted. The sprouted seeds were then transfered to individual pots for further growth. This species does not appear to be any more difficult than any other Coccothrinax to germinate.
Submitted on 06/12/2006 by Tom White Thomas_White@fws.gov

... are very easy to germinate and need up to 1 month to sprout.
I collected several ripe seeds from beneath fruiting C. argentea in the Dominican Republic, washed them in a dilute bleach solution, rinsed them in fresh water, and placed them in ziploc freezer bags filled with damp spaghnum moss. I then kept them in a warm (29-31C) site in my house, and out of direct sunlight, and most (80%) of the seeds germinated after 10-15 days. For these and other such germination efforts, I highly recommend freezer bags - as opposed to simple plastic storage bags - because the thicker plastic helps maintain more stable conditions inside during time required for germinations.
Submitted on 10/10/2006 by Tom White Diputado99@hotmail.com


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plant cultivation comments by our visitors
Also see germination commnets above.

Plants from this species ...

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	• • • Write a plant cultivation comment and enter to win Euro (€) 50 worth of seeds • • • Please note: These comments are on how to cultivate the PLANTS once the seeds have germinated.

If you wish to read more on palm cultivation, we highly recommend Ornamental Palm Horticulture by Timothy K. Broschat and Alan W. Meerow, available in our bookshop.

Ratings and comments reflect individual experiences and the views of our visitors. They do not necessarily describe the most appropriate methods, nor are they necessarily valid for all seeds or plants of this species. Germination and plant cultivation success depends on many different factors; nevertheless, these experiences will hopefully aid you in your effort to get the best germination results from our seeds and the best growth results from your plants.

We recommend:

Martius, Book of Palms
by H. Walter Lack

Hardcover - 450 pages
19.8 x 13.5 inches!
11.1 pounds!
50 x 34 cm, 5 kg

Our Rating:

Suitable for: all

Martius's magnificent work on the varieties of palm tree. This epic folio was based on Martius's expedition to Brazil and Peru with zoologist Johann Baptist von Spix. From 1817 to 1820 the pair travelled over 2,250 km (1,400 miles) throughout the Amazon Basin, the most species-rich palm region in the world, collecting and sketching specimens.
In his epic work, Martius outlined the modern classification of palm, produced the first maps of palm biogeography, described all the palms of Brazil, and collated the sum of all known genera of the palm family. For apart from his own collection of specimens and notes, Martius also wrote about the findings of others.
Martius's folio is unusual in its inclusion of cross-sectioned diagrams, conveying the architecture of these mighty trees. Equally remarkable are the color landscapes showing various palms—often standing alone—which have a simple and elegant beauty. This famous work is an unrivaled landmark in botanic illustration and taxonomy.

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