Sabal palmetto

RHS Plant Profile

blue palmetto

Other common names

cabbage palmetto, cabbage palmetto palm, common palmetto, palmetto palm, cabbage palm, cabbage tree, fan palm, Hispaniolan palmetto, thatch palm

Synonyms

Corypha umbraculifera Jacq.
Corypha palmetto
Corypha palma
Sabal blackburniana
Sabal umbraculifera

Palms

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A slow-growing, single-stemmed palm, forming a large, rough-trunked tree to 30m tall in its native warm temperate USA. It bears compact, spherical heads of many fan-shaped leaves to 2m long. Borderline hardy in a very sheltered spot, elsewhere it is best grown in a cool greenhouse or conservatory

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Arecaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Sabal are a genus of 17 recognised species of slow-growing and fairly hardy fan-palms, native to the tropical and sub-tropical Americas. The leaves have midribs, extending into the leaf blade, which sets them apart from other palms. Fruits are hanging and mature from green to red
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: SE USA to Cuba

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added limestone chippings, in full light. During the growing season water freely and apply a high-nitrogen fertiliser monthly; water moderately at other times. Outdoors, grow in moderately fertile soil in a sunny, sheltered corner; provide winter protection when young. See palm cultivation indoors and palm cultivation outdoors

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 20°C in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free