Description
Copernicia hospita, commonly known as the Cuban wax palm tree, is a striking, slow-growing palm that reaches heights up to 8 m (26 feet). It has a smooth trunk can grow up to 0.3m (1 feet) in diameter, and has a dense crown of stiff, circular fan-shaped fronds. The leaves are an intense bluish-silver-white color, about 1.5 meters (5 feet) wide.
Endemic to Cuba, the Cuban wax palm grows in dry, open woodlands and limestone soils, thriving in full sun and well-drained conditions. It is highly drought-tolerant, wind-resistant, and is cold-hardy down to about -4°C (25°F). Its silver foliage and strong structure make it a prized ornamental palm for collectors and for use in tropical and subtropical landscapes with minimal water requirements.
This species is very rarely offered for sale and difficult to find in cultivation, especially at this size.