Windmill Palm

Grows best in partial sun. A thin, single-trunked palm with rounded, evergreen leaves held stiffly upright, hence its common name. The trunk is covered in a loose mat of brown fiber, like burlap — a useful identification tool. Leaves are silvery underneath, with petioles containing two rows of small thin spines. Flowers appear in late spring, with fruit ripening over the summer.

Windmill is a compact palm, frequently used as a foundation plant in landscape beds and around houses where it can shade an entry. It can grow up to 40 feet, but 10-20 feet is more common in Texas landscapes (so it is commonly planted in groupings). Though slow growing, it is extremely cold-hardy.