Common screw pine Pandanus utilis
Common screw pine (Pandanus utilis) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Pandanaceae family, native to Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands (coastal). It grows 4–12 m (13–39 ft) tall and 3–6 m (10–20 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about 5 °C (41 °F). Space plants about 4 m (13 ft) apart.
Plan Common screw pine in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Common screw pine at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Pandanaceae |
| Mature height | 4–12 m (13–39 ft) |
| Mature spread | 3–6 m (10–20 ft) |
| Spacing | 4 m (13 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5.5–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About 5 °C (41 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 11) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 40 °C (104 °F) |
| Flowering | from about June for 4–9 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands (coastal) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇸🇬 Singapore |
Is Common screw pine toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
No toxicity reported; leaf margins are spiny.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Common screw pine
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
See Common screw pine in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Kew: glasshouses and rock garden (1 plants)
Questions about Common screw pine
- How far apart should I plant Common screw pine?
- About 4 m (13 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–6 m (10–20 ft).
- Does Common screw pine need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Common screw pine need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Common screw pine?
- It tolerates about 5 °C (41 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 11.
- When does Common screw pine flower?
- From about June for 4–9 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Common screw pine poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported; leaf margins are spiny.
- What grows well with Common screw pine?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Common screw pine. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Kew Gardens: Palm House, Temperate House, Rock Garden and Mediterranean Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical: outdoors only in frost-free climates; in temperate gardens grow it under heated glass (as in the Kew Palm House).
- Leaves spiral round the trunk (hence "screw pine"); stilt roots prop the trunk.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Pandan Pandanus amaryllifolius
- Dwarf mountain pine Pinus mugo
- Japanese maple Acer palmatum
- Black walnut Juglans nigra
- English yew Taxus baccata
- Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
- Japanese flowering cherry Prunus serrulata
- Saucer magnolia Magnolia x soulangeana