One of the best of the best of the Florida Natives! Coonties are actually a Cycad – “living fossil’ and were a dominant form of plant life during the dinosaur age. It’s increased use in the landscape has encouraged the presence of the rare Atala butterfly, which uses coontie as a larval host plant. Plant in well drained sandy or loamy soils. Can survive winter temperatures of 15 degrees making it a good cold hardy, durable addition to the garden.