Gerald L. Klingaman
Family
Arecaceae
Botanical Name
Serenoa repens
Plant Common Name
Saw Palmetto
General Description
The adaptable saw palmetto has handsome, stiff, fan-like fronds that are bold and beautiful. It is a small, evergreen, clustering palm that grows very slowly and develops long, often unbecoming, fiber-covered trunks. It is native to the coastal sandy plains of the far southeastern United States where it inhabits open seaside landscapes and scrubby woods.
The fan-shaped fronds of this palmetto are stiff, coarse and typically dull green to grayish green but some forms are breathtaking silvery blue or nearly white. They have fierce, saw-like petiole stems armed with numerous, small, backward-angled spines. The petiole color of silvery blue leaved plants is often golden orange. In spring, branched clusters of fragrant white blossoms arise from the crowns, which are insect-pollinated and favored by honeybees. Honeybees favor its flowers and make saw palmetto honey, which has a very distinctive flavor. The fruits that follow are black when ripe and emit a somewhat foul odor. They are the source of an extract that is used to treat prostate enlargement.
Grow saw palmetto in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils. It is often found growing in low, lightly wooded areas. It withstands high heat and is not pH sensitive. The green-leaved form is good for use in naturalistic landscapes or incorporated into mixed borders. The naturally occurring silvery blue-leaved form is much more ornamental and magnificent planted in groups among companion plants with soft-colored flowers. Occasionally remove dry, brown fronds to keep this palm looking its best. Clumps with unsightly or leggy trunks can be cut back with a chainsaw and allowed to rejuvenate.
Saw palmetto is best purchased as seed-grown container stock. It germinates quickly but is slow growing. Saw palmetto does not transplant well, but success rates are higher if all the foliage is removed beforehand. In parts of the American Southeast it is illegal (and certainly unethical) to harvest this palm from the wild.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
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USDA Hardiness Zone
8 - 12
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Palm or Cycad
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
7'-25' / 2.1m - 7.6m
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Width
10'-15' / 3.0m - 4.6m
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Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring
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Native To
United States, Southeastern United States
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Clump-Forming
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
White
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Fruit Color
Black
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Blue Green, Gray Green, Silver
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Blue Green, Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Blue Green, Olive, Gray Green
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
Yes
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
Yes
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Invasive
No
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Attracts
Birds
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Self-Sowing
Yes
