Common name: Buccaneer Palm/Cherry Palm.

Pseudophoenix sargentii is one of the few palms native to USA with it's habitat spreading from Florida through much of Central America and the Carribean. This attractive, medium sized palm has pinnate leaves that can reach over 4m (13ft) in length. One of the nicest features of this palm is the trunk, which is slightly swollen and displays very clear ring detail from the old leaf bases. The Cherry Palm name is derived from the bright red fruit, which are unusual amongst palms, as they often contain two or three seeds. Despite being very slow growing, sometimes just one new leaf per year, it has many desirable features in cultivation. It is one of the most salt and wind tolerant palm species and, due to it's habitat range, it also exhibits some frost tolerance. It prefers a lightly shaded area with moist, well draining soil and is ideally suited to sheltered coastal positions. This palm can be grown in most warm temperate and sub-tropical regions, but could survive in some very mild cold temperate gardens with a good microclimate. Due to it's slow growth, it could be used as a container palm, either in the conservatory or a well lit area of the house for many years before outgrowing it's confines. Although it is endangered in habitat and still relatively rare in cultivation, it is hoped that it's good looks and adaptability will increase it's popularity.