Leucothrinax morrisii
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Leucothrinax morrisii

Brittle Thatch Palm · Buffalo Thatch · Key Palm · Key thatch palm · Silvertop-Palmetto

Tier 2 Difficulty: easy Water: low Light: full_sun
Temperature
20–37 °C
Soil pH
6–7
Hardiness
Zone 10–12
Click count
12
Observations
13

Description

Source: leafsnap

Leucothrinax morrisii, the Key thatch palm, is a small palm which is native to the Greater Antilles (except Jamaica), northern Lesser Antilles, The Bahamas and Florida and the Florida Keys in the United States. Until 2008 it was known as Thrinax morrisii. It was split from the genus Thrinax after phylogenetic studies showed that its inclusion in Thrinax would render that genus paraphyletic. The generic name combines leuco (in reference to the whitish colour of its flowering stalks and the undersides of its leaves) with thrinax.

Care Guide

💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun

Key thatch palm comes from open habitats, such as sunny meadows and forest margins, which provide plentiful light. It does best in Full Sun but can also tolerate Partial Sun, adapting well to a range of sunlight conditions.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C

Key thatch palm comes from tropical areas, where the climate is generally warm and humid. Therefore, it is well suited to high temperatures and moisture. It does not tolerate abrupt temperature shifts and prefers a steady temperature, so avoiding indoor temperature fluctuations is important. It typically cannot endure cold conditions and needs warmer temperatures to grow. If the surrounding temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.

Ideal temperature: 20–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-7
Soil pH: 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer

The best time to fertilize a Key thatch palm is in early spring as it breaks dormancy. This encourages overall growth and flower formation. Fertilizing improves the foliage, stems, and branches, while encouraging large, vibrant, and long-lasting blooms. It also helps transport nutrients from the roots to the flowers and strengthens the plant’s health and disease resistance.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning

The key thatch palm is characterized by its slender trunk and fan-shaped leaves. To maintain its health and appearance, it is best to prune these palms in early spring. Be sure to remove any dead or damaged fronds and sterilize your tools to prevent the spread of disease. This practice not only improves the palm's appearance but also promotes better air circulation and reduces the risk of pests.

🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Tree, Shrub
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Leucothrinax
Family
Arecaceae
Hardiness Zone
10-12
Mature Height
10.06 m
Mature Spread
3.35 m
Leaf Color
Light Green, Silver
Leaf Type
Evergreen
Flower Color
White
Flower Size
0.20 cm to 0.25 cm
Bloom Time
Summer
Planting Time
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Harvest Time
Late summer, Fall

Tags (6)

Common Names (7)

en Brittle Thatch Palm
en Buffalo Thatch
en Key Palm
en Key thatch palm
en Silvertop-Palmetto
en Brittle-thatch
en Key thatchpalm