Family - Arecaceae
Natural Habitat - Coastal areas, Hammocks, Flatwoods, Floodplains &
banks of rivers, creeks, lakes.
Planting Zones - 8b, 9, 10, 11
Description - This hardy native palm reaches heights of 75 - 80 feet or more and was
designated as Florida's state tree in 1953.
Leaves (fronds) are attached to the
tree on long petioles which clasp the trunk, overall leaf length including the
stem can exceed 8 feet. Leaves and other organic material collect in the base of
the
V
shaped "boots" where the leaf stems attach to the trunk & in which a variety of
ferns, vines, orchids and Strangler Figs
( Ficus aurea ) often grow. The
photo at right shows a Golden_small1.jpg)
polypody fern attached to the stem of a Sabal palm.
Once established the Sabal Palm is resistant to salt spray,
drought and wind, making it a natural selection for coastal areas.
Sabal palms will tolerate a wide range of soil textures and pH.
Flowers in summer are yellowish-white on a 4 -5 foot branched inflorescence
produced at the crown. Fruit is a reddish-brown round berries a 1/3 of an inch
in diameter that turn black when mature, each berry contains a single, brown
seed. Squirrels, Raccoons and birds are attracted by and feast on the fruit,
various butterflies as well as bees use the flowers as a food source
Landscape Use - Widely used in Florida landscapes, can be used as a single specimen tree or planted in
groups.
Culture - Full sun to light shade - slow growing, may be grown from
seed, more often purchased in various sizes as trees collected from the wild.
These have had the fronds and roots trimmed back and must be kept
well watered and supported by braces until well established as the
trimmed roots die back after transplanting.
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