Pandanus (Screw Pine), Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Pandanus, or screw pine, is a sculptural coastal tree with long, spiny, spiraling leaves and brace roots, and it is among the best plants for salt and wind in Southwest Florida. It grows 15 to 30 ft, tolerates drought and sandy soil, and suits waterfront and Gulf-side yards. The leaf edges are sharp, so plant it away from walkways and pool decks.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Salt:
- Very high; handles salt spray and coastal wind
Pandanus (Screw Pine) sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Pandanus (Screw Pine) | 7 Gallon, Field Grown 7'-8', Field Grown 9'-10' |
Pandanus (Screw Pine) in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 15 to 30 ft tall and 12 to 20 ft wide
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established
- Salt tolerance
- Very high; handles salt spray and coastal wind
- Cold tolerance
- Tender: a freeze can damage it; coastal Lee and Collier are usually fine, protect young plants inland
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate
- Florida native
- No, native to Madagascar
- Botanical name
- Pandanus utilis
Where Pandanus (Screw Pine) works in a SW Florida yard
Screw pine suits the front line of a waterfront or Gulf-side yard, where salt and wind burn most trees. It reads as a sculptural accent, with a spiraling leaf crown on a trunk braced by prop roots.
Give it 15 to 20 ft of width and keep it well away from walkways, pool decks and play areas because of the spines. Coconut palm, sea grape and agave make good coastal companions.
- Coastal specimen tree
- Salt-spray and wind planting
- Waterfront accent
- Sculptural tropical focal point
How our crew plants it
The spiny leaves make this a gloves-and-care job, so leave the lifting and setting to the crew. The root ball goes in level with the soil, never deeper, in a hole twice as wide. Taller field-grown trees are braced until the roots anchor. The crew waters it in and cleans up. Lee and Collier allow extra watering for new plantings.
Care after planting
- Water young plants regularly through the first dry season, then taper to your two assigned days or less.
- A palm fertilizer with micronutrients in spring and early fall is plenty, and the June 1 to September 30 ban means none in summer.
- Wear heavy gloves and eye protection to remove old leaves, and cut dead leaves close to the trunk.
- Cover young plants with frost cloth on nights forecast near freezing.
What to watch for
- The leaf edges and midribs carry small red spines that cut skin, so keep it away from paths and play areas.
- It drops leaves all year and can look messy, and female trees carry large, heavy fruit heads that break apart and drop.
- Scale insects can show up, though serious pests are few.
Pandanus (Screw Pine) questions we hear
Is pandanus good near the beach in Florida?+
Yes. UF/IFAS rates it high for salt tolerance, and it handles wind, sandy soil and drought, which makes it a classic coastal specimen in Southwest Florida. It suits open Gulf-side and canal lots. It is not hardy to hard freezes, so inland plants need protection.
How big does a screw pine get?+
Typically 15 to 30 ft tall with a crown 12 to 20 ft wide, though UF/IFAS says it can reach 60 ft. Growth is slow to moderate. The branching trunk and prop roots widen the base over time, so give it a wide spot away from structures.
Are screw pine leaves dangerous?+
The leaf edges and midribs carry small, sharp red spines, so handle it with gloves and keep it away from walkways, pool decks and play areas. Fallen leaves are spiny too. Setting it in a mulched bed that keeps people at a distance works well.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Pandanus (Screw Pine)
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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