According to Kew Gardens, it is from Central America and probably Cuba and Florida.   After going through the photos and labels for specimens in the S , Tolerance, Unknown Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Noted for being weedy. , Habitat, Disturbed. Old orange groves, pasture, roadsides. May occur naturally along the west FL coast including shell mounds and dunes . All records for in , Did You Know?, Showy flowers

Retain if present in natural setting. Can be grown in a wildflower garden. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Pine rocklands, swampy forests on stumps and logs just above high water levels, in humus. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers The flowers do not produce nectar but use food deception to attract various bees including Euglossa, Thygater and Melipona, a genus of

Old fronds can be extremely heavy and are known to damage buildings when they fall (Haele and Brookwell 1999), so save the palm by not planting it ove , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, This is a tall palm, make sure it has room to grow. , Wildlife, Various birds and other wildlife eat the fruit. , Habitat, Tropical rockland hammock, Everglades tree islands. , Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host for monk skipper (Minno & Minno 1999)

Use as a tall groundcover or small shrub. , Tolerance, Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges. Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure t , Considertions, Can become somewhat weedy. , Habitat, Hammocks, disturbed sites , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Nectar plant for Bahamian swallowtail (Heraclides andraemon), cassius blue (Leptotes cassius), Florida white (Appias drusilla), gray ha

This is a rare species in Florida. Retain it if present. Shade tree. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Squirrels, racoons, deer and other animals eat the acorns. , Habitat, Upland pine forest, pine-oak-hickory woods, bayheads. Slopes. , Did You Know?, Larval host for the white-M hairstreak.