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Sabal Palmetto (Cabbage) Palm
Sabal Palmetto
803- 287-8483 or 803-370-5174
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Sabal Palmetto Palm Tree
Information Page
Sabal Palmetto
The cabbage (Sabal) Palmetto is an erect, unbranched palm tree. It
grows to a height of 33 to 82 feet (10-25 m) with a stem diameter of
12 to 24 inches (30-60 cm). Typically the stem diameter is uniform
from the base to the crown.
Leaf bases or "boots" may persist on the stem or
slough off, giving the stem a smooth appearance.
Cabbage palmetto leaves are fan-shaped, palmately divided, and
spineless. They are borne on a prominately-arching midrib and may be
3 to 9 feet (1-3 m) long. Cabbage palmetto flowers are perfect,
showy, and creamy to yellowish white. They are borne in arching or
drooping clusters. The fruit is a black, fleshy, drupe that contains a
single
brown spherical seed. Sargent (1933 in) described the cabbage
palmetto root system as a short, bulbous underground stem
surrounded by a dense mass of
contorted roots with smaller, light orange roots penetrating the soil to
a depth of 15 to 20 feet
The cabbage (Sabal) Palmetto is an erect, unbranched palm tree. It
grows to a height of 33 to 82 feet (10-25 m) with a stem diameter of
12 to 24 inches (30-60 cm). Typically the stem diameter is uniform
from the base to the crown.
Leaf bases or "boots" may persist on the stem or
slough off, giving the stem a smooth appearance.
Cabbage palmetto leaves are fan-shaped, palmately divided, and
spineless. They are borne on a prominately-arching midrib and may be
3 to 9 feet (1-3 m) long. Cabbage palmetto flowers are perfect,
showy, and creamy to yellowish white. They are borne in arching or
drooping clusters. The fruit is a black, fleshy, drupe that contains a
single
brown spherical seed. Sargent (1933 in) described the cabbage
palmetto root system as a short, bulbous underground stem
surrounded by a dense mass of
contorted roots with smaller, light orange roots penetrating the soil to
a depth of 15 to 20 feet
Two ways to buy the Palmetto palm tree... Slick or booted.
Slick will have most of the old boots taken off the tree.. Full booted
will still have all the old fronds that have been trimmed left on.
Slick will have most of the old boots taken off the tree.. Full booted
will still have all the old fronds that have been trimmed left on.
The cabbage palm, Sabal Palmetto
Fruit of the cabbage palm, Sabal Palmetto
No Roots No Boots program:
Why do we hurricane cut the Palmetto Palm?
When the Palmetto palm is dug up every root that is cut dies.
The outcome will be a 50% or more loss of the crown.
With the root loss the crown must be cut back, up to 8 fronds can be
left. For best results it's best to hurricane cut the tree.
When transplanting the Palmetto it has about a 76% chance of living
due to the root loss. Leaving the full crown brings that percentage
down to below 50%.
II. HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
Regional Occurrence:
Sabal palmetto occurs from southernmost portions of North Carolina
through Florida and the Florida Keys to Cuba and the Bahamas. It is
widely cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands
IRL Distribution:
Cabbage palms occur throughout the Indian River Lagoon, most
commonly in communities characteristic of barrier islands and beach
dunes: live oak-sea oats communities, sand pine scrub, and palmetto
prairies.
III. LIFE HISTORY AND POPULATION BIOLOGY
Age, Size, Lifespan:
S. Palmetto grows to a height of 10 – 25 m (32-82 feet), with a stem
diameter of approximately 30 – 60 cm (12-24 inches). Leaves may
measure up to 3 m (9.8 feet) in length. Fruits are small, measuring
approximately 8 mm (1/3 inch) in width. Root systems are deeply
penetrating, and may reach depths of 4.6 – 6.1 m (15-20 feet).
Abundance:
S. Palmetto is abundant throughout the Florida and the Indian River
Lagoon system.
Locomotion:
Sessile.
Reproduction:
S. Palmetto flowers from April through August, depending upon
latitude. S. Palmetto is insect pollinated. Fruit develops throughout the
fall, and ripens in winter. Birds and small mammals that eat the fruit of
this tree aid in seed dispersal.
Embryology:
Seeds are buoyant and salt resistant, requiring no pretreatment in
order to break dormancy. Germination is hastened by planting seeds
in moist sand at 3 ° C (38° F) for 30 days. Optimum planting depth is
1.5 – 3 cm (0.5 – 1 inch) in light soil. Seed survival is reported to be
low due to consumption by animals. Reported that as little as 9% of
620,000 seeds produced per acre survived frugivory.
First year growth consists of the primary root, one fully expanded
leaf, and a rhizomatous stem.
IV. PHYSICAL TOLERANCES
Salinity:
Sabal Palmetto is highly tolerant of salt spray, and inundation by
brackish water. Seeds of this species are also salt resistant.
Physical Tolerances:
St. John (1973) listed Sabal palmetto as one of the most insect
resistant trees in southern Florida. Cabbage palms are also highly
resistant to infection by pathogens.
V. COMMUNITY ECOLOGY
Trophic Mode:
Autotrophic.
Competitors:
Probable competitors include exotic species such as Australian pine
(Casuarina spp.), melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia), coconut palm
(Cocos nucifera) and Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia).
Habitats:
Optimum growth occurs in humid subtropical to warm temperate
climates where average rainfall is 100 – 163 cm (39-64 inches), and
average maximum/minimum temperatures range from –4 - 36° C
(25-97 ° F). Northern growth is limited by low winter temperatures.
Preferred soil type for S. Palmetto is calcium rich, and neutral to
alkaline in nature. Cabbage palms prefer poorly drained soils, and
often grow at the edge of freshwater and brackish wetlands. This
species tolerates flooding.
Why do we hurricane cut the Palmetto Palm?
When the Palmetto palm is dug up every root that is cut dies.
The outcome will be a 50% or more loss of the crown.
With the root loss the crown must be cut back, up to 8 fronds can be
left. For best results it's best to hurricane cut the tree.
When transplanting the Palmetto it has about a 76% chance of living
due to the root loss. Leaving the full crown brings that percentage
down to below 50%.
II. HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
Regional Occurrence:
Sabal palmetto occurs from southernmost portions of North Carolina
through Florida and the Florida Keys to Cuba and the Bahamas. It is
widely cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands
IRL Distribution:
Cabbage palms occur throughout the Indian River Lagoon, most
commonly in communities characteristic of barrier islands and beach
dunes: live oak-sea oats communities, sand pine scrub, and palmetto
prairies.
III. LIFE HISTORY AND POPULATION BIOLOGY
Age, Size, Lifespan:
S. Palmetto grows to a height of 10 – 25 m (32-82 feet), with a stem
diameter of approximately 30 – 60 cm (12-24 inches). Leaves may
measure up to 3 m (9.8 feet) in length. Fruits are small, measuring
approximately 8 mm (1/3 inch) in width. Root systems are deeply
penetrating, and may reach depths of 4.6 – 6.1 m (15-20 feet).
Abundance:
S. Palmetto is abundant throughout the Florida and the Indian River
Lagoon system.
Locomotion:
Sessile.
Reproduction:
S. Palmetto flowers from April through August, depending upon
latitude. S. Palmetto is insect pollinated. Fruit develops throughout the
fall, and ripens in winter. Birds and small mammals that eat the fruit of
this tree aid in seed dispersal.
Embryology:
Seeds are buoyant and salt resistant, requiring no pretreatment in
order to break dormancy. Germination is hastened by planting seeds
in moist sand at 3 ° C (38° F) for 30 days. Optimum planting depth is
1.5 – 3 cm (0.5 – 1 inch) in light soil. Seed survival is reported to be
low due to consumption by animals. Reported that as little as 9% of
620,000 seeds produced per acre survived frugivory.
First year growth consists of the primary root, one fully expanded
leaf, and a rhizomatous stem.
IV. PHYSICAL TOLERANCES
Salinity:
Sabal Palmetto is highly tolerant of salt spray, and inundation by
brackish water. Seeds of this species are also salt resistant.
Physical Tolerances:
St. John (1973) listed Sabal palmetto as one of the most insect
resistant trees in southern Florida. Cabbage palms are also highly
resistant to infection by pathogens.
V. COMMUNITY ECOLOGY
Trophic Mode:
Autotrophic.
Competitors:
Probable competitors include exotic species such as Australian pine
(Casuarina spp.), melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia), coconut palm
(Cocos nucifera) and Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia).
Habitats:
Optimum growth occurs in humid subtropical to warm temperate
climates where average rainfall is 100 – 163 cm (39-64 inches), and
average maximum/minimum temperatures range from –4 - 36° C
(25-97 ° F). Northern growth is limited by low winter temperatures.
Preferred soil type for S. Palmetto is calcium rich, and neutral to
alkaline in nature. Cabbage palms prefer poorly drained soils, and
often grow at the edge of freshwater and brackish wetlands. This
species tolerates flooding.
The Palmetto can survive close to 0F for a few hours.
We rate this tree B+ on a cold hardy score.
We suggest leaving the older boots on the tree for
colder climates for extra protection. The Palmetto is
being planted in Washington DC and other cold areas.
We rate this tree B+ on a cold hardy score.
We suggest leaving the older boots on the tree for
colder climates for extra protection. The Palmetto is
being planted in Washington DC and other cold areas.
When to plant the Palmetto tree.. The Palmetto palm
tree can be planted when the ground temperature is
above 60F. In our area March- October.
tree can be planted when the ground temperature is
above 60F. In our area March- October.
