Sabal Palm

Introduction

The Sabal Palm is Florida’s state tree. It is commonly know as the Cabbage Palm. It is used as an ornamental and street tree, well adapted for group, specimen or avenue plantings. This palm is very salt tolerant and can be grown on the beach or directly at the water’s edge of bays and inlets. Very adaptable. Average moisture will do. Tolerates drought, standing water and brackish water.

The Sabal palm takes several forms, depending on age. As the tree grows, old leaf bases may remain on the trunk. These old leaf bases are called “boots”. The “boots” typically found on younger trees and may be removed, in nature they are removed by storms or fire. They will fall off, reveling the trunk.

Additional Characteristics

• A great cold hardy palm
• Trunk is slender and can get 60’ ft tall
• Wide range of soils and climates
• Can grow in extremely alkaline soils
• Responds well to fertilizer
• Considered disease and pest free
• Prefers full sun, but grows well in part sun to shade
• Is drought tolerant, but benefits from regular watering
• Can withstand frosts and freezes to 15 degrees with only minor foliage damage

Usage

• Plant in pool areas for residential areas
• Use in natural and formal settings in large open areas
• Commercially plant in street, avenue and parkland environments approximately 30 feet apart

Planting

• Typically planted in 5, 7, 10, 15, 30, 45, 65, or 95 gal containers.
• B&B trees are specified in height (6’ – 8’ ht, etc)
• Container trees can be double the price of B&B trees
• Plant container trees in late summer, if price allows
• Plant B&B trees if they were dug and cured in the winter months