Uses
Edible uses
Notes
Young leaves - raw or cooked[3]. An excellent food[1]. The large succulent leaf buds are cooked and eaten as a vegetable[4].
Sap - sweet[1].Fruit
Leaves
Sap
Material uses
Pieces of the spongy bark of the stem are used as a substitute for scrubbing brushes[4]. The leaves are woven to make coarse hats, mats and baskets[4]. The roots contain about 10% tannin[3]. This has been harvested commercially in the past but there is not really enough tannin for profitable extraction[3].
Wood - light and soft[4]. The trunks are used to make wharf piles, whilst polished cross-sections of the trunk have been used as small table tops[4]. The wood is also largely manufactured into canes[4].Ecology
Ecosystem niche/layer
Ecological Functions
Nothing listed.
Forage
Nothing listed.
Shelter
Nothing listed.
Propagation
Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Sabal palmetto. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.
Cultivation
This palm tolerates short-lived freezes down to about -10°c and can be grown outdoors in the very mildest areas of the country[9]. This species has been designated the state tree of Florida[2]. Palms usually have deep penetrating root systems and generally establish best when planted out at a young stage. However, older plants are substantially more cold tolerant than juvenile plants[9]. In areas at the limit of their cold tolerance, therefore, it is prudent to grow the plants in containers for some years, giving them winter protection, and only planting them into their permanent positions when sheer size dictates[9]. This species can also be transplanted even when very large. Although the thick fleshy roots are easily damaged and/or desiccated, new roots are generally freely produced. It is important to stake the plant very firmly to prevent rock, and also to give it plenty of water until re-established - removing many of the leaves can also help[9].
A very variable plant in the wild[9].Crops
Problems, pests & diseases
Associations & Interactions
There are no interactions listed for Sabal palmetto. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.
Polycultures & Guilds
There are no polycultures listed which include Sabal palmetto.
Descendants
Cultivars
Varieties
None listed.
Subspecies
None listed.
Full Data
This table shows all the data stored for this plant.
References
- ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.5 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
- ? 2.02.12.22.3 Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ISBN 0442238622 (1980-00-00)
- ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.63.7 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
- ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.64.74.84.9 Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)
- ? 5.05.1 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
- ? 6.06.1 Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
- ? Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. (1989-00-00)
- ? 8.08.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
- ? 9.09.19.29.39.49.59.69.7 McMillan-Browse. P. Palms for Cooler Climates. Trebah Enterprises. ISBN 0 9521952 0 8 (1993-00-00)
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