Curculigo latifolia syn. Molineria capitulata

Palm Grass is a truly unique understory plant that goes by several, sometimes confusing, names including Whale Back Grass, Weevil Lily, and Lemba. Palm Grass is neither a palm, nor a grass and instead belongs to the Hypoxidaceae family. This cold hardy and attractive plant looks and feels just like a sprouted coconut palm, but never grows more than three feet high. In addition to the coolness factor, Palm Grass is also famous for the small, edible fruits that have the unique quality of temporarily affecting one’s taste and making liquids and foods taste sweet. The effect is similar to that of the unrelated Miracle Berry, Synsepalum dulcificum.

Plants slowly spread by pups that emerge from underground rhizomes, which produces a lush, full appearance. Palm Grass is cold hardy, but in severe winters will die down to the ground to re-emerge late in spring. We have both plants available in quart or large band pots.

Plants are hardy to USDA zone 8b and above, or to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.