Plant Coontie – Caudex at the Same Depth

Plant Coontie – Caudex at the Same Depth guide illustration

Plant coontie with the caudex at the same depth it sat in the pot. Dig a hole no deeper than the root ball, in ground that drains.

Planting Coontie care summary diagram

Plant it with the caudex at the same depth it sat in the pot

FactorRecommendedAvoid
HoleNo deeper than the root ball, and a little widerDo not bury the caudex deeper than it grew in the pot
SoilNative sandy soil if water runs through itDo not make a wet well of rich mix around the roots
WhenAny frost-free stretch, so the roots can takeDo not plant into cold, wet ground

coontie stores food in a fleshy caudex that already sits mostly underground. That caudex rots if you bury it deeper than it sat in the nursery pot. Dig a hole no deeper than the root ball. Set the top of the root ball at the soil line, or a little high, and backfill with the native soil if it drains. [1] Water once to settle the soil, then wait until the top has dried before you water again. A new planting needs that first season of water, then you can ease off. [2]

  1. Dig a hole no deeper than the root ball, and a little wider.
  2. Set the top of the root ball at the soil line, or a little high. Do not bury the caudex deeper than it grew in the pot.
  3. Backfill with the native soil if water runs through it. Do not pack a wet well of rich mix around the roots.
  4. Water once to settle the soil, then wait until the top has dried before you water again.

How deep do I plant coontie?

Set the top of the root ball at the same depth it sat in the pot, or a little high. A buried caudex sits wet and rots.

Leave room for the clump, and keep mulch off the crown

The mound spreads by suckers. Leave about 3 feet between plants so the clump can fill in, and do not pack them tighter than about 2 feet. [3] Keep mulch a shovel-width off the crown. Mulch piled against the caudex holds wet and invites rot. Ground that stays soggy is a poor home. [4] Sun and watering once the plant is in stay on How to Grow Coontie.

  1. Leave about 3 feet between plants in a group. Do not pack them tighter than about 2 feet.
  2. Keep mulch a shovel-width off the crown. Do not pile it against the caudex.
  3. If you are moving a large plant, keep as much of the root ball as you can, and set it at the same depth it grew.

How far apart do I plant coontie?

About 3 feet in a group is a comfortable spacing. Do not pack plants tighter than about 2 feet.

If water stands in the hole, choose a higher spot before you plant. A buried caudex sits wet and rots.

FAQ

Can I transplant a large coontie?

Yes, if you keep a solid root ball and set the caudex at the same depth it grew. Water once to settle, then wait until the top has dried.

Should I amend the hole with compost?

A small amount mixed through sandy soil is fine. Do not make a wet well of rich mix around the roots.

Recommended plants

References

  1. [1] UF/IFAS Extension - https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP617
  2. [2] UF/IFAS Extension Baker County - https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/sfylifasufledu/baker/docs/pdf/horticulture/demonstration-gardens/Coontie.pdf
  3. [3] North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox - https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/zamia-integrifolia/
  4. [4] UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County - https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/pascoco/2024/07/16/floridas-native-gems-the-coontie/

This note is part of Zamia Guides.

More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.

Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors

This guide is written for real gardens, not perfect climates. Results vary with site, season, and plant choice. We draw on multiple sources and practical experience; treat the steps here as honest guidance, not a promise that every bed will behave the same.