Plant encyclopedia›blue palmetto

blue palmetto

Also known as: cabbage palmetto; cabbage palmetto palm; common palmetto; palmetto palm; cabbage palm; cabbage tree; fan palm; Hispaniolan palmetto; thatch palm

A slow-growing, single-stemmed palm, forming a large, rough-trunked tree to 30m tall in its native warm temperate USA. It bears compact, spherical heads of many fan-shaped leaves to 2m long. Borderline hardy in a very sheltered spot, elsewhere it is best grown in a cool greenhouse or conservatory

Scientific classification

Species: blue palmetto (Sabal palmetto)
Genus: Sabal
Family: Arecaceae

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Toxicity: Palms
Plant type: 1-1.5 metres
Height: 0.5-1 metres
Spread: Evergreen
Foliage: Columnar upright
Habit: Spring · Summer · Autumn · Winter
Season of interest: Full sun
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

blue palmetto pictures

Distribution of blue palmetto

Distribution map

Southeastern USA to Cuba

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Culture

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Toxicity

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Quick identification of blue palmetto

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blue palmetto care guide

Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings
Watering: Full sun
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

Watering

Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings

Fertilizing

Balanced perennial feed every four weeks from spring through summer

Pruning

No pruning required

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 20°C in spring

Growing

Under glass, grow in loam-based potting compost with added limestone chippings, in full light. During the growing season water freely and apply a high-nitrogen fertiliser monthly; water moderately at other times. Outdoors, grow in moderately fertile soil in a sunny, sheltered corner; provide winter protection when young. See palm cultivation indoors and palm cultivation outdoors

More growing and care information →