Where to see needle palms in habitat?

[NC_Palms]

Does anyone know of good parks and locations where you can see wild needle palm (R. hystrix) populations? Preferably in South Carolina or Georgia but I don’t mind driving to Northeast Florida for a day trip. 

Thank you!

[palmsOrl]

Well I know Wekiva Springs State Park has many lovely Rhaphidophyllum hystrix throughout the park but that is in Central Florida north of Orlando.

[Steve in Florida]

Have you tried calling any of the state parks in central Georgia?  They will often have a list of available plant species on their lands and approximately where they can be viewed.

Edited November 3, 2019 by Steve in Florida

[RyManUtah]

This is on a native stand in Georgia. This may or may not be helpful for you. 

https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/52247-i-found-an-interesting-population-of-rhapidophyllum-hystrix-in-georgia/

[NC_Palms]

On 11/2/2019 at 12:53 PM, palmsOrl said:

Well I know Wekiva Springs State Park has many lovely Rhaphidophyllum hystrix throughout the park but that is in Central Florida north of Orlando.

Thank you! Wekiva Springs is a little too far for me but I’ll be sure to check it out whenever I am back in Orlando. 

On 11/2/2019 at 8:49 PM, Steve in Florida said:

Have you tried calling any of the state parks in central Georgia?  They will often have a list of available plant species on their lands and approximately where they can be viewed.

Thank you! I didn’t know that the Georgia state parks listed that information but I’ll check that out. 

[redbeard917]

Torreya State Park has entire hillsides covered with them. The effect is stunning.

[NC_Palms]

7 hours ago, redbeard917 said:

Torreya State Park has entire hillsides covered with them. The effect is stunning.

I'm actually planning a weekend trip to Torreya State Park this winter. I going mostly to see the rare Taxus floridana and Torreya taxiflora 

 

[hbernstein]

Torreya is fantastic for seeing large Needle Palms!

[The7thLegend]

The Florida Caverns is a great place to see Needle Palms in their natural habitat.

 

[kinzyjr]

@The7thLegend That first picture is exactly what I see when I envision the perfect Needle palm.  Thank you for sharing!

[NC_Palms]

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, The7thLegend said:

The Florida Caverns is a great place to see Needle Palms in their natural habitat.

Thanks for sharing. I'll have to consider visiting that state park on my trip to the Panhandle.