Common name: Seashore palm

Habitat and Distribution: The Seashore palm is a palm with edible fruit native to the Atlantic coast of Brazil. It grows in coastal strand, just above the high tide mark, and is widely cultivated as an ornamental throughout South America.

Description: The seashore palm is small in size, reaching about 6 feet tall. Solitary with a branching subterranean trunk, this palm is rhizomatous giving the appearance of a clustering palm. The leaves of the seashore palm emerge right out of the ground from a subterranean trunk that is rarely visible, and grow in a swirling pattern, spreading out on different and seemingly random planes. Leaflets are deep green with a prominent midrib and curl. Flowers look like corn cobs on a long stick. Very old plants can grow 9’ to 15' wide.

Culture: Although this palm normally grows in sandy soil, it seems able to adapt to many poor soil types, even heavy clay. It prefers ample amounts of water, but once established is fairly drought resistant. This palm is cold hardy and can withstand freezes down to 25F. (Which can damage the plant considerably but can recover from if brief) The seashore also can thrive in the dry, hot inland southern California desert as well as the cold, salty beaches along the coast. Comparatively, it’s slower growing in the mediterranean than subtropics. A. arenaria is one of the most salt tolerant palms grown in cultivation. It survives full sun to fairly dense shade. Rare in cultivation. 

Historic: Based on fossil records, it is also regarded as the most ancient of palms, a predecessor to all others.

Uses: The Seashore palm is used as a beach screen, being very tolerant of extreme coastal and beach exposure, as well as salt spray. Plant Allagoptera arenaria in front of larger palms, or even underneath large palms. They look good massed in clumps in mixed borders, or as framing hedges. Thanks to their drought resistance and durability to heat they can thrive in harsh urban conditions. They can be used for watershed protection, erosion control and as a beach screen. The seashore palm is cultivated extensively in South America for the edible fruits which are eaten fresh or made into a drink or jam. 

Comments: Allagoptera arenaria is cultivated extensively in South America for the edible fruits which are eaten fresh or made into a drink or jam.
Excellent palm for containers.