Sabal palmetto

Common Names

Cabbage Palm, Cabbage Palmetto, Sabal Palm, Palmetto Palm, Blue Palmetto, Carolina Palmetto, Common Palmetto, Swamp Cabbage

Summary

Cabbage palm is a native evergreen palm of the southeastern United States, including coastal Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, with a single trunk and a rounded crown of large, fan-shaped leaves; fronds are curved and costapalmate with blades about 3–4 ft long, and the trunk bears old leaf bases for a rugged appearance, salt-tolerant and hurricane-resistant.

Grows best in full sun to partial shade on well-drained soils and is hardy in zones 8–11, tolerating drought once established and surviving to about 15°F; propagation is by seeds or offshoots, maintenance is minimal with establishment watering and light fertilization, and pruning is normally unnecessary; widely used in coastal landscaping as a street tree or focal specimen, with wildlife value from fruits and an edible heart of palm (harvest kills the plant); common pests include palmetto weevil and palm diseases such as Ganoderma butt rot, with lethal bronzing a regional concern.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

40-80 feet

Spread

10-15 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8a-11b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained sandy or loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

6.6-8.4, Neutral to alkaline

Bloom Color

Creamy white

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Green foliage, with top side vibrant green and underside lighter, sometimes silvery.

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color change.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow to moderate; ~6 inches–1 foot per year (optimal conditions).

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Stem cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds