Sabal Palm Tree Facts
For many visiting beaches or tropical climates, the palm tree is a ubiquitous sight. Within the palm tree family, referred to as Arecaceae, Palmae or Palmaceae, there are over 200 different genuses and over 2,500 different species. The sabal palm (genus Sabal; species palmetto), a tree originating in southeastern United States, is one member of the palm family. Does this Spark an idea?
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Features
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A mature sabal palm reaches an average height between 40 and 55 feet, but in ideal conditions it can grow to 90 feet. The average diameter of the trunk--sometimes called the stem--is anywhere between 1 to 2 feet. The tree's diameter will be uniform, or the same size, from the base of the tree to the top, where the crown is located. The tree's crown is covered with leaves, or palmates, which can grow up to 10 feet in length. The diameter of the entire crown can be between 10 and 20 feet (the combined length of the largest two opposed palmates). White to cream-colored flowers will bloom in the summer. The sabal also produces small, .25 to .5 inch in diameter, fruit, which has a hard, dark-brown to black shell.
Climate and Habitat
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The area in which the sabal can grow is fairly restricted. These areas correspond to USDA hardiness zones 8b to 10b, which represent southern Texas, Florida and California. The tree can also be found in the Carolinas, Hawaii and Cuba. The sabal thrives in full sun and partial shade. The tree prefers loose, well-drained soil, such as sand or clay. It can tolerate mildly acidic (6.1 to 6.5), neutral (6.6 to 7.5) or mildly alkaline (7.6 to 7.8) soil types.
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Positive Aspects
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In Hawaii, the sabal is a commercial wood source, and is used in wharf and bridge construction. The sabal's palmates can be used in basket making, roof repairs, canes and brooms. The sabal's fruit can support a wide variety of wildlife: bears, raccoons, bats, turkeys, small birds and deer.
Negative Aspects
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The sabal is susceptible to bark rot, which will kill the tree. Rot will infect trees that have undergone surface damage due to garden or metal instruments, and so one preventative measure is to protect the trunk surface. Rot cannot be treated, so an infected tree must be removed. The sabal has its own pest, the cabbage palm caterpillar, which can infest the tree. Insecticide may be a treatment, but a local nursery should be contacted beforehand.
Considerations
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The Sabal palmetto is the state tree of Florida and South Carolina. Small mammals, particularly squirrels, eat the sabal's fruit. The sabal palm is often called the cabbage palm, as the center of the flower head, or the terminal bud, tastes like cabbage. But, the tree will die when the terminal bud is removed.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit palm image by koko300 from Fotolia.com
