Cabbage Palm (Sabal palmetto): Native Fan Palm of the Southeast

Cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto), also called sabal palm, Carolina palmetto, or palmetto palm, is the state tree of Florida and South Carolina. It has a sturdy, solitary trunk (often with persistent leaf bases "boots") and a crown of costapalmate, deep green, fan-shaped leaves.

Growth

Slow-growing to 40–50 feet tall. Very wind- and salt-tolerant. The "heart" (terminal bud) is edible (swamp cabbage) but harvesting kills the tree. It is a keystone species in southeastern ecosystems.

Culture

Full sun to part shade; adaptable to wet or dry soils. Transplant only as a mature tree with trunk; seedlings have no trunk for years. Hardy in zones 8–11. Low maintenance.

Taxonomy

• Family: Arecaceae
• Genus: Sabal
• Species: palmetto