Swamp Palmetto Sabal minor
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAY-bal MY-nor
- Description
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Dwarf palmetto is a small, evergreen, perennial shrub in the palm family (Arecaceae) native to the Southeast United States from Oklahoma (extreme southern corner) and Texas to North Carolina and south to Florida and Mexico. North Carolina is its northernmost range.
It prefers partial shade to full sun and neutral to alkaline, moist to wet soil, and is tolerant of poorly drained soils. It is somewhat drought tolerant once established and has a moderate salt tolerance. It grows very slowly, so buying larger plants will give more instant impact and satisfaction. Dwarf palmetto is hardy to zone 7 with adequate winter protection. Propagate it by seed.
Deer seldom damage this plant. Flowers are fragrant and appear in summer. The flowers attract pollinators, and the berries that follow feed birds and small mammals.
Dwarf palmetto does well as a specimen, in understory plantings, and provides a tropical look for foundation or patio plantings. Plant it in coastal and naturalized areas, around ponds and other water features. The plant is useful in water, rain and winter gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
Additional video for Sabal minor from the Native Plant Picks series from the North Carolina Sea Grant led Coastal Landscapes Initiative.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Savannah Silver'
- 'Savannah Silver'
- 'Savannah Silver'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Savannah Silver'
- 'Savannah Silver'
- 'Savannah Silver'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sabal
- Species:
- minor
- Family:
- Arecaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- S. Oklahoma to SE. U.S.A., Mexico
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruits are eaten by robins, raccoons, and many other birds and mammals.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is seldom damaged from deer. Drought tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Round <.5 inch fleshy shiny drupe with one seed. Green maturing to purple/black. Displays from August to November
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Creamy white flowere are small but numerous. They are borne on erect, compound panicles up to 6' long
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmasect
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate fan-shaped simple deeply divided lobed suborbicular palmate leaf 1 to 5 feet tall and wide. The leaves remain attractive in the winter. Petioles are smooth (unarmed) and long.
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Bark:
- Bark Description:
- The trunk of this plant is partially subterranean.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stem is underground
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pond
- Pool/Hardscape
- Riparian
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Water Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Humidity
- Salt
- Wet Soil
