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

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington

Bark

Taken by Ken Harrington

Frond

Taken by Ken Harrington

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

Life Span

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

Leathery

Glabrous,

Leathery

Stiff

Frond Texture (back)

Glabrous

Frond Length

3-3.5m

Frond Width

2-2.5m

Frond Aroma

None

Frond Shapes

Costapalmate

Orbicular

Costapalmate,

Orbicular

Frond Arrangement

Dense Crown

Whorled

Dense Crown,

Whorled

Frond Attachment

Split Sheath

Fan Frond Margin

Entire

Fan Frond Cross Section

Pleated / Folded

Fan Frond Apice(s)

Frayed

Threaded Deeply Bilobed

Frayed,

Threaded Deeply Bilobed

Fan Frond Venation

Parallel Multicostate Divergent

Pinnule Length

800-900mm

Pinnule Width (Leaflet)

5-10mm

Pinnule Apice(s) (Leaflet)

Frayed

Threaded Deeply Bilobed

Frayed,

Threaded Deeply Bilobed

Pinnule Margin(s) (Leaflet)

Entire

Pinnule Cross Section(s) (Leaflet)

Induplicate

Pinnule Venation (Leaflet)

Parallel

Petiole Length

1.5-2m

Petiole Texture

Glabrous

Waxy

Glabrous,

Waxy

Petiole Feature(s)

Plain

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

Cross Section

Terete

Diameter

300-350mm, 350-400mm, 400-450mm, 450-500mm, 500-600mm

300-350mm,

350-400mm,

400-450mm,

450-500mm,

500-600mm

Length

14-15m, 15-16m, 16-17m, 17-18m

14-15m,

15-16m,

16-17m,

17-18m

Features

Indistinct Growth Rings, Trunk Smooth

Persistent Leaf Bases

Indistinct Growth Rings, Trunk Smooth,

Persistent Leaf Bases

Construction

Pith Continuous

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Flowering Time (start)

Spring Late

Flowering Time (end)

Summer Mid

Colour(s)

Cream-white

Flower Shape(s)

Bisexual or Hermaphrodite Flower

Flower Size(s) Length

5-7.5mm

Aroma(s)

Sweet-Moderate

Arrangements

Axillary, Interfoliar Long

Pannicle

Axillary, Interfoliar Long,

Pannicle

Pendulous

Arrangement Size(s)

2-2.25m, 2.25-2.5m

2-2.25m,

2.25-2.5m

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Insects

Bees,

Insects

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Drupe

Shape(s)

Globose-Sub

Pyriform

Globose-Sub,

Pyriform

Outer Colour(s)

Black

Outer Texture

Fleshy

Length

10-15mm

Aroma

None

Seed Properties

Type

Nutlet

Colour

Brown, Brown-Dark

Brown,

Brown-Dark

Shape(s)

Globose

Texture(s)

Glabrous

Size

7-8mm

Seed Dispersal

Animals, Birds, Gravity

Animals,

Birds,

Gravity

Seed Number

Root Properties

Type

Subterranean Stem/Adventitious Root

Texture

Rough / Scabrous

Coarse , Cord-like , Fibrous

Coarse,

Cord-like,

Fibrous

Colour(s)

Brown, Orange, Orange-brown

Brown,

Orange,

Orange-brown

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

Moist

Moist-Dry

Damp,

Moist,

Moist-Dry

Fertile , Poor , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Poor,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight - Moderate

Waterlogging Class

W2 – Good tolerance

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Good

Bird Attraction

Fruit, Habitat

Fruit,

Habitat

Butterfly Attraction

Poor

Frog Habitat

Poor

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Very Low

Wood Density

Low < 600kg/c.m.

Coastal

1st Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

Seed

Fire Retarding

None

Drought Tolerance

Good

Frost Tolerance

Poor

Smog Tolerance

Moderate

Snow Tolerance

None

Indigenous Use(s)

Leaves - Roofing, Thatching, Leaves - Weaving, Basketry, Leaves new - Eaten cooked, Wood - Construction

Leaves - Roofing, Thatching,

Leaves - Weaving, Basketry,

Leaves new - Eaten cooked,

Wood - Construction

Landscape Use

Good

Street Use

Poor

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Fronding

Pests/Diseases

Ganoderma Butt Rot (Ganoderma zonatum), Trunk Rot (Thielaviopsis), Texas Phoenix Palm Decline, Mealy Bug, Scale

Ganoderma Butt Rot (Ganoderma zonatum),

Trunk Rot (Thielaviopsis),

Texas Phoenix Palm Decline,

Mealy Bug,

Scale

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

Altitude Range - Habitat

0-100m, 100-200m

0-100m,

100-200m

Annual Precipitation Range

1,000mm, 1,100mm, 1,200mm, 1,300mm, 1,400mm, 1,5oomm, 1,600mm

1,000mm,

1,100mm,

1,200mm,

1,300mm,

1,400mm,

1,5oomm,

1,600mm

Propagation

Fresh Seed

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.

Propagation Notes

Fresh Seed

Flowering

Oct, Nov

Seed Collecting

Jan, Feb, Mar

Sowing

Mar, Apr, May

Material Preparation

The fruit takes several months to ripen. Pick the fruit when it is very brown, black, yellow-black, off the tree or from off the ground. Peel off the outer flesh or if too hard, soak the nuts in warm water for 48 - 72 hours to loosen the outer flesh. Change the water daily. Discard any nuts that float to the top, keep the ones that sink. Floating nuts won't germinate as they lack an endosperm. Wash the nuts thoroughly with Solvol soap to remove any remaining pulp. Allow to dry. Store in a cool, dark place. It is best to sow the nuts as soon as possible for best results. Fresh seed is best, sow as soon as possible.

Viability:- 6 - 12 months

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

Premium Seed Raising Mix

2 parts Premium Seed Raising Mix + 1 part Isolite

Treatment

Fill Forestry tubes or 150mm deep seedling trays with mix and push the seed into the mix 15-30mm deep and cover with mix. Water in well with Previcur fungicide mix. Place in hothouse on 25-30°C heated bed with misters. Maintain hothouse environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect sun light.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:- 18 -33 days / 50% germination

Pricking out:- 3 - 4 months after germination

140mm Pot Mix:- Premium Potting Mix

Notes

The slow growing seedlings can take 15-30 years to develop a trunk.