Syagrus weddelliana

Prune off lowest leaves as they brown to keep this palm looking tidy. Mature plants in warmer areas can produce marble-size coconuts with husks that split when ripe.

Grows up to 3,000 feet in Brazil's Atlantic forest in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo. Its home climate is tropical with a cool, drier winter and rainy summer.

Can this plant be a houseplant? Well that's a tricky question. This specific plant hasn't been grown to be a houseplant. Houseplants are grown under regulated conditions and with sterile soil, setting them up to thrive in your home. When outdoor-grown plants are taken indoors, they tend to transition poorly, often becoming magnets for pests. That said, if you decide to live dangerously and bring this plant indoors, here's some advice to help you out. Start by un potting the plant and removing any loose soil (but don't disturb the roots). Next, preemptively treat the entire plant, including the roots, with an insecticidal soap. Be sure to treat the roots gently throughout this process. Use a new nursery can or sterilize the previous one with bleach. Repot the plant in a fresh mix and then water deeply with the insecticidal soap mix. Be sure to keep an extra close eye out for any pests that might pop up. Always consider the risk of introducing pests to your other houseplants.