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Genus Sabal (Palmetto)

Sabal Sabal minor Photo/Illustration: Jennifer Benner
SAY-ball Common Name: Palmetto
From tropical, swampy areas in the southern U.S. and northern South America come 14 species of palms with deeply divided, fan-shaped leaves. Panicles of 3-petal flowers bloom between the leaves in summer. Often the dead leaves form a kind of skirt below each crown. They make striking specimens in warmer areas. Use in greenhouses or as houseplants where not hardy.
 Noteworthy characteristics: Fan-shaped leaves.
 Care: In the garden, grow in moist but well-drained soil in full sun with some shade in the middle of the day. Indoors, grow in bright indirect light. Mist lightly every day in summer.
 Propagation: Sow seed in spring at 66° to 75°F.
 Problems: Tar spot, butt rot, false smut, manganese deficiency, fungal leaf spots. In the greenhouse, watch for spider mites and scale insects.

Species, varieties and cultivars for genus Sabal

Sabal minor Sabal minor
(Dwarf palmetto, Scrub palmetto) Be the first to rate this plant
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This species has deeply divided, fan-shaped leaves of blue-green to 3 feet across. It bears ivory blossoms on 6-foot-long panicles in summer. It may be shoot-hardy to Zone 6 with a deep layer of mulch.