Grow and Care for Coontie

Grow coontie in sandy soil that drains, and water when the top has dried. Coontie is Florida's native cycad, not a palm. It is also sold as Florida arrowroot.

Give coontie part sun, sandy soil that drains, and water when the top has dried

coontie is Zamia pumila, a low cycad with a mostly underground caudex and a mound of glossy, fern-like leaves about 2 to 3 feet tall. Florida gardeners often list the same native plant as Zamia integrifolia. [1] Give it part sun and sandy ground that drains. It can take full sun once it is established, and it can take shade, but the plant looks deepest green with some sun and some cover. [2] Once the plant is in, it takes a dry spell better than a wet crown, so water when the top has dried, then let it dry again. A new planting needs regular water until the roots take, then you can ease off. [3] In the growing months, a light fertilizer that includes micronutrients is enough. Skip a heavy weekly dose that pushes soft leaves.

1. Match the light. Part sun is the usual home. Full sun is fine once the plant is established, if the new leaves do not bleach.
2. Plant in sandy ground that drains. Water should not stand around the caudex.
3. Water when the top of the soil has dried, then let it dry again. Ease off once the plant is established.
4. Feed lightly in the growing months. Skip a heavy weekly dose.

Not cardboard palm — and not sago palm or a ZZ plant

A true palm is a flowering plant. Coontie is a cycad. It makes a cone, not a palm inflorescence. Cardboard palm is Zamia furfuracea, a Mexican cycad with stiff, felted, wider leaflets. That is a different plant, not an extra card here. Sago palm is Cycas revoluta; see How to Grow Sago Palm. Dioon is another cycad with a stiffer crown; see How to Grow Dioon. A ZZ plant is Zamioculcas, an indoor aroid, not a cycad; see How to Grow ZZ Plant. A tag that says Raven is that ZZ plant, not this genus. If the tag says coontie or Zamia pumila or Zamia integrifolia, you have the Florida native. All parts poison a dog, a cat, or a person if they chew them. The seeds are the worst. [4]

Cut only leaves that are fully brown

Coontie needs almost no pruning. Wear gloves, and cut a leaf only when it is fully brown, close to the crown. Leave green leaves on so the slow mound keeps feeding the caudex. Do not cut the crown back for shape. If Atala caterpillars strip the leaves for a couple of weeks, leave those insects; the plant grows a new flush.

1. Wear gloves. The leaflet tips can catch bare skin.
2. Cut only a leaf that is fully brown, close to the crown. Do not pull it off.
3. Leave green leaves on. Do not cut the mound back for shape.
4. If leaves yellow while the soil is still wet, let it dry before you water again, rather than cutting a green flush.

If new leaves yellow while the mix is still wet, let it dry before you water again. Keep pets from chewing the plant.