How to Grow Coontie
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Coontie
Zamia pumila
shrubZamia pumila, commonly known as Coontie, is a small cycad native to Florida and the Caribbean that grows slowly to form a clumping shrub with feathery, fern-like compound leaves. It produces distinctive cone-like reproductive structures and has been historically important as a starch source for indigenous peoples. This ancient plant lineage is prized in landscaping for its tropical appearance and extreme hardiness in subtropical climates.
When should you plant Coontie in your zone?
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Example Coontie timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Coontie
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Coontie
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Coontie dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 9-11, with cold tolerance to about 15°F (-9°C) when established
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Get my Coontie timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment
3-6 monthsSmall rhizome with few emerging fronds; minimal visible growth
Keep soil consistently moist (not wet); protect from direct sun; ensure excellent drainage to prevent rhizome rot
Vegetative Growth
1-3 yearsDeveloping more compound fronds; plant gradually increases in density and height
Maintain moderate water; apply balanced fertilizer monthly during warm season; mulch to conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature
Mature Foliage
OngoingFull crown of feathery, blue-green compound fronds radiating from central caudex; plant reaches landscape size
Reduce fertilizer to 2-3 times yearly; maintain steady watering; remove dead fronds; very drought-tolerant once established
Cone Production
Several months to maturationLarge reddish-orange or yellow cone-like reproductive structures emerge from center of plant; typically after 5+ years
Do not remove cones prematurely; they mature slowly over many months; female plants produce seeds within cones
Decline/Dormancy
2-3 monthsWinter slowdown with minimal new growth; some frond yellowing in extreme cold
Reduce watering significantly; withhold fertilizer; protect from freezing temperatures below 15°F if possible; do not prune living tissue
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap; prune heavily infested fronds; inspect regularly for early detection
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Remove and destroy affected leaflets; prune out heavily damaged fronds; neem oil can help suppress populations
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Increase humidity with regular misting; spray with water to dislodge; use miticide if severe
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Hand-pick visible caterpillars; use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) for severe infestations; remove affected fronds
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Ensure perfect drainage; allow soil to dry between waterings; repot in fresh soil if severely affected; remove rotted roots
Uses
Traditional Starch Source
CulinaryHistorically, indigenous peoples and early Florida settlers extracted starch (coontie starch) from the rhizomes to make a nutritious flour. This practice is largely historical but reflects the plant's important cultural heritage. [source]
Atala Butterfly Host Plant
WildlifeZamia pumila is the exclusive host plant for the endangered Atala butterfly (Eumaeus atala), making it critical for butterfly conservation programs and native habitat restoration in Florida. [source]
Ornamental Tropical Landscaping
HouseholdThe feathery, fern-like foliage and slow growth make it an excellent accent plant for tropical and subtropical gardens, patios, and containers where year-round structure is desired. [source]
Traditional Ethnobotanical Use
MedicinalVarious Caribbean and pre-Columbian cultures used zamia species for medicinal purposes, though modern evidence for efficacy is limited; primarily of historical ethnobotanical interest. [source]
Specimen Plant for Collectors
CraftSerious plant collectors and cycad enthusiasts cultivate zamias for their rarity, ancient lineage, and the challenge of long-term cultivation; specimens can become valuable landscape features. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Coontie is not typically harvested for foliage. If propagating, collect mature reddish seeds from female cones (harvest when cone opens naturally); extract and clean seeds, then soak overnight before planting. Rhizome division is possible in early spring but extremely slow to establish.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Zamia pumila is one of the few cycads native to the continental United States, occurring naturally only in Florida, and represents a plant lineage that thrived during the age of dinosaurs over 200 million years ago.
- 🌱 The plant's cones are among the most primitive reproductive structures in the plant kingdom, using motile sperm that must swim through a liquid medium to reach the egg—a process more similar to ferns than flowering plants.
- 🌱 Coontie starch was so important to early Florida settlers and the Seminole people that entire industries developed around its extraction and processing in the 1800s, before being superseded by potato and corn starches.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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