Sabal palmetto Walt.; Lodd.

Common name(s): Cabbage Palm, Cabbage Palmetto, Sabal Palm, Blue Palmetto, Carolina Palmetto, Swamp Cabbage

Family: Arecaceae (Palmae) Synonym(s): Sabal viatoris L.H. Bailey, Sabal bahamensis Becc.; L.H. Bailey, Sabal jamesiana Small, Sabal schwarzii O.F. Cook; Becc., Sabal parviflora Becc., Sabal palmetto var, bahamensis
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington
Bark
Bark
Taken by Ken Harrington
Frond
Frond
Taken by Ken Harrington
Frond
Frond
Taken by Ken Harrington
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Palm / Palm Ally Properties
Origin(s)
Bahamas
  • Bahamas: Indigenous
Cuba
  • Cuba: Indigenous
Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Turks Is.: Indigenous
United States
  • Florida: Indigenous
  • Tex.: Indigenous
  • Georgia: Indigenous
  • Louisiana: Indigenous
  • North Caro: Indigenous
  • South Caro: Indigenous
Plant Type
Frond Retained, Palm, Palm Fan-leaved, Solitary
Frond Retained,
Palm,
Palm Fan-leaved,
Solitary
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Tropical-Sub, Tropical
Tropical-Sub,
Tropical
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full, Shade - Light
Sun - Full,
Shade - Light
Habitat Range(s)
Forest - Littoral, Lakes / Dams / Swamps, Rainforest - Sub-tropical, Rivers / Creeks / Streams
Forest - Littoral,
Lakes / Dams / Swamps,
Rainforest - Sub-tropical,
Rivers / Creeks / Streams
Habitat Zone(s)
Coastal margins, Fresh-brackish water, Garden, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Hill Sides, Lakes / Dams / Swamps, Landscape, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Riparian areas, Rivers / Creeks / Streams, Sand dunes, Sandy Moist, Water sides, Well drained, Wet Pockets, Windy
Coastal margins,
Fresh-brackish water,
Garden,
Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,
Hill Sides,
Lakes / Dams / Swamps,
Landscape,
Moist areas,
Moist Slopes,
Riparian areas,
Rivers / Creeks / Streams,
Sand dunes,
Sandy Moist,
Water sides,
Well drained,
Wet Pockets,
Windy
Mature Height
10-15m, 15-20m
10-15m,
15-20m
Mature Width
3-4m, 4-5m
3-4m,
4-5m
Growth Rate
Slow, Moderate
Slow,
Moderate
Plant Shape
Standard Crown - Dense
Standard Crown - Dense
Standard Crown - Dense Standard Crown - Dense
Life Span
100-150yrs
100-150yrs
Frond Properties
Frond Colour(s) (front)
Dull, Green Mid, Grey-green
Dull,
Green Mid,
Grey-green
Frond Colour(s) (back)
Dull, Green Mid, Grey-green
Dull,
Green Mid,
Grey-green
Frond Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery
Stiff
Stiff
Frond Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Glabrous Glabrous
Frond Length
3-3.5m
3-3.5m
Frond Width
2-2.5m
2-2.5m
Frond Aroma
None
None
Frond Shapes
Costapalmate
Costapalmate
Orbicular
Orbicular
Costapalmate Costapalmate,
Orbicular Orbicular
Frond Arrangement
Dense Crown
Dense Crown
Whorled
Whorled
Dense Crown Dense Crown,
Whorled Whorled
Fan Frond Margin
Entire
Entire
Entire Entire
Trunk / Stem Properties
Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)
Grey, Grey-white
Grey,
Grey-white
Colour(s) (Base)
Grey, Grey Light
Grey,
Grey Light
Texture (Upper)
Coarse , Corky , Fibrous
Coarse,
Corky,
Fibrous
Texture (Base)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Glabrous Glabrous
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Bisexual
Flowering Time (start)
Spring Late
Spring Late
Flowering Time (end)
Summer Mid
Summer Mid
Colour(s)
Cream-white
Cream-white
Flower Shape(s)
Bisexual or Hermaphrodite Flower
Bisexual or Hermaphrodite Flower
Bisexual or Hermaphrodite Flower Bisexual or Hermaphrodite Flower
Flower Size(s) Length
5-7.5mm
5-7.5mm
Aroma(s)
Sweet-Moderate
Sweet-Moderate
Arrangements
Axillary, Interfoliar Long
Axillary, Interfoliar Long
Pannicle
Pannicle
Axillary, Interfoliar Long Axillary, Interfoliar Long,
Pannicle Pannicle
Pendulous
Pendulous
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Insects
Bees,
Insects
Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties
Type
Drupe
Drupe
Drupe Drupe
Shape(s)
Globose-Sub
Globose-Sub
Pyriform
Pyriform
Globose-Sub Globose-Sub,
Pyriform Pyriform
Length
10-15mm
10-15mm
Aroma
None
None
Root Properties
Type
Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root
Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root
Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Calcareous, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Sand,
Calcareous,
Hummus Rich,
Organic Matter
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline
Condition(s)
Damp
Damp
Moist
Moist
Moist-Dry
Moist-Dry
Damp Damp,
Moist Moist,
Moist-Dry Moist-Dry
Fertile , Poor , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Poor,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
Slight - Moderate
Slight - Moderate
Slight - Moderate Slight - Moderate
Waterlogging Class
W2 – Good tolerance
W2 – Good tolerance
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Good
Good
Bird Attraction
Fruit, Habitat
Fruit,
Habitat
Butterfly Attraction
Poor
Poor
Frog Habitat
Poor
Poor
Coastal
1st Line
1st Line
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
None
None
Drought Tolerance
Good
Good
Frost Tolerance
Poor
Poor
Smog Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Landscape Use
Good
Good
Special Purpose(s)
Garden-Container, Fire Resistant, Foliage-Interesting, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Informal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Rainforest, Garden-Tropical, Interesting Trunk, Litter Issue - Leaves, Shade tree-Light, Specimen, Sunny Dry, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Cockatoo's, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Parrot's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares
Garden-Container,
Fire Resistant,
Foliage-Interesting,
Garden-Coastal,
Garden-Courtyard,
Garden-Foliage,
Garden-Informal,
Garden-Mediterranean,
Garden-Rainforest,
Garden-Tropical,
Interesting Trunk,
Litter Issue - Leaves,
Shade tree-Light,
Specimen,
Sunny Dry,
Sunny Moist,
Tolerant-Cockatoo's,
Tolerant-Deer,
Tolerant-Kangaroo's,
Tolerant-Parrot's,
Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

General Notes

A popular palm for subtropical climates with tolerance to salt spray and drought conditions. The S. palmetto is the official state tree of both Florida and South Carolina. On young to middle aged palms the leaf base still attached to the trunk creates a cross-hatched or basket weaved looked on older palms the leaf bases or boots fall off, leaving a smooth trunk. A very wind tolerant plant, able to withstand hurricanes in its natural envirnment. The crown can consist of 15-30 fronds.

One of the palms that is fairly easily dug up and relocated so long as the palm has a trunk of 3 metres or more and has 95% of the fronds removed. Cut roots die back, with a large amount of new roots growing. It therefore needs to be well watered to re-establish at this stage, which can be 8 months or longer.