Coccothrinax crinita Seeds | Old Man Palm
LATIN NAME: Coccothrinax crinita
COMMON NAME: Old Man Palm
Plant Profile
Old Man Palm (Coccothrinax crinita) is a slow, slender fan palm of the family Arecaceae, native to Cuba. It grows 3-6 m tall, its trunk wrapped for years in a dense, hanging thatch of grey, hair-like fibres — the ‘old man’s beard’ that gives the palm its name — topped by a crown of stiff, fan-shaped leaves. It is one of the most distinctive of all collector palms and thrives in sun and drought.
Science & Biotechnology
Seed science, comparative botany and horticultural selection all touch on Coccothrinax crinita, a representative of the palm family with clear practical value. From a research perspective, species of this kind are valuable material for work on propagation and on the selection of uniform lines.
Uses & Benefits
In the garden, Old Man Palm earns its place in borders, containers and mixed plantings, and it also rewards growers who raise plants for cutting, drying or kitchen use. Old man palm is a fine, bold palm of warm garden and study collection. It is a fine, bold palm of open, sunny, deep, well-drained garden. Give young palms warmth and deep, well-drained bed, and woolly trunk will form over the years. Once it has its roots down, it more or less looks after itself.
A tree like this repays patience for decades: it cools and shelters its surroundings, hosts birds and insects, and stores carbon in timber that outlives its planter.
Growing from Seed
Starting Old Man Palm from seed is simple and satisfying. Level a tray of loose seed compost, sow evenly, cover to about the seed’s own depth, and keep it moist in full light. Once the seedlings have made true leaves, pot them on individually and plant out when they are sturdy and conditions are right.
Our Take
Old Man Palm repays a little patience at sowing time with plenty of garden presence later.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Old Man Palm often pair it with these related subjects: