Sabal blackburniana
Cabbage palmetto · Sabal palm · Palmetto palm · Cabbage palm · Palmetto
Description
Source: leafsnapSabal palmetto (, SAY-bəl), also known as cabbage palm, cabbage palmetto, sabal palm, blue palmetto, Carolina palmetto, common palmetto, Garfield's tree, and swamp cabbage, is one of 15 species of palmetto palm. It is native to the Southern United States and the West Indies.
🌳 Cabbage palm is not only an iconic tree in Florida and South Carolina but also a multipurpose plant in many cultural traditions. The young leaves are harvested to make "heart of palm," a protein-rich vegetable that is a staple in Indigenous American diets. Its sturdy stems are used to build water-resistant docks. Its leaves can be woven into hats or employed to thatch roofs. Additionally, the cabbage palm's black fruit has traditionally been made into palm wine. Its seeds are used to produce nutrient-rich animal feed.
🎭 Fortune
Care Guide
💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun
The cabbage palm performs best with plentiful, unobstructed sunlight but can tolerate a certain amount of shade. Native to sunny regions, the plant achieves its greatest growth in those conditions. Too much or too little light can harm its health, so a balance of light is important.
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C
The cabbage palm occurs naturally in warm climates and prefers temperatures of 68 to 100 ℉ (20 to 38 ℃). It requires warmth during its growing season to thrive. In colder months it can tolerate temperatures as low as 20 ℉ (-6.67 ℃).
💨 Humidity
🪴 Soil 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer
Fertilize your Cabbage palm in early spring to encourage healthy growth. Regular feeding boosts its overall health, producing vigorous growth, increased resilience to harsh conditions, and improved resistance to pests and disease. Keep to a set fertilization schedule for your Cabbage palm to maintain vibrant, deeply colored foliage and a lush appearance.
🪴 Pot & Repot 1-2 years
When repotting a Cabbage palm, choose a pot that is slightly larger and has excellent drainage. Use a well-draining potting mix. Repot in spring, taking care not to damage the roots while doing so. Set the palm at the same level it had in the old pot. Water well after repotting, and place it in a warm spot with bright, indirect light. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity
Characteristics
- Plant Type
- Palm
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Sabal
- Family
- Arecaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 10-12
- Mature Height
- 6.1 m to 9.14 m
- Mature Spread
- 3.05 m to 4.57 m
- Leaf Color
- Green
- Leaf Type
- Evergreen
- Flower Color
- White
- Flower Size
- 2.54 cm
- Bloom Time
- Early summer, Mid summer
- Planting Time
- Spring, Autumn
- Harvest Time
- Mid summer, Late summer, Early fall
- Native Area
- Bahamas, Cuba