Coontie (Zamia integrifolia)
Can tolerate all light conditions.
Low water needs.
Size: 1-3 ft tall x 3 ft wide
Bloom Time: Summer
From a distance, coontie looks like a fern but it is actually in the cycad family. It is the only cycad native North America. The dark green leaves are the preferred host plant for the rare Atala butterfly. Florida native people once ground up the stems to make a chalky substance used as flour. (But please don’t do this at home because the stem is toxic if not cooked properly). It os extremely drought and sand tolerant so it makes a great addition to coastal landscapes. It can be used as a boarder or specimen plant. Due to its slow growing nature, it is a little more expensive.
https://fnps.org/plants/plant/zamia-integrifolia
Low water needs.
Size: 1-3 ft tall x 3 ft wide
Bloom Time: Summer
From a distance, coontie looks like a fern but it is actually in the cycad family. It is the only cycad native North America. The dark green leaves are the preferred host plant for the rare Atala butterfly. Florida native people once ground up the stems to make a chalky substance used as flour. (But please don’t do this at home because the stem is toxic if not cooked properly). It os extremely drought and sand tolerant so it makes a great addition to coastal landscapes. It can be used as a boarder or specimen plant. Due to its slow growing nature, it is a little more expensive.
https://fnps.org/plants/plant/zamia-integrifolia
