Coontie Zamia floridana 10 Seeds

Zamia floridana, commonly known as coontie and now scientifically referred to as Zamia integrifolia, is a low-growing, palm-like cycad native to Florida and parts of the southeastern United States. It features glossy, feather-like leaves that grow in a rosette from an underground stem or caudex. As the only cycad native to the continental U.S., coontie holds both ecological and cultural importance. It serves as the larval host plant for the rare Atala butterfly (Eumaeus atala) and was historically used by Indigenous peoples, including the Seminole, who processed its starchy roots—despite their toxicity—to make a flour called Florida arrowroot. Today, coontie is valued in landscaping for its drought tolerance, adaptability, and ornamental appeal, making it a popular choice in native plant gardens and habitat restoration projects.

Growing Instructions for the Coontie

The seeds have a hard seed coat that has to be treated, or scarified, in order for water to enter the seeds so that they can sprout. 1. Scarify the seeds by nicking or sanding the seed coat. The seeds can be sanded with sandpaper, a nail file or an emery board. 2. Soak the seed in water for several hours. 3. The seeds like moist, sandy, well-drained soil. Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half sand. Put the soil in a pot. Water the mixture so that it is moist but not wet. 4. Place the seeds on the soil. 5. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. They germinate in a few weeks. 6. Water the seeds. 7. Place the pots in an area with warm temperatures in full sun or part shade. 8. When the seedlings have a few leaves, they can be transplanted.