Blue Saw Palmetto
Serenoa repens
Introduction
Saw Palmetto is an extremely sturdy palm with great
textural interest which blends in well with natural or seaside
landscapes. This low, clumping, bushy palm has large,
fan-shaped leaves and multiple trunks which creep along the
ground, creating a dense ground cover. Most Saw Palmettos
have green leaves, but a form with blue leaves can be found
along the southeast coast of Florida. Three-foot-long flower
stalks appear in spring, covered with small, yellow-white,
fragrant flowers, the source of a commercial high-grade honey.
The flowers are followed by small, yellow berries which turn
black, ripening August through October. These berries are an
important food source for many mammals and birds.
General Information
Scientific name: Serenoa repens
Pronunciation: sair-ren-NOE-uh REE-penz
Common name(s): Saw Palmetto
Family: Aracaceae
Plant type: palm
USDA hardiness zones: 8 through 11
Planting month for zone 8: year round
Planting month for zone 9: year round
Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year round
Origin: native to Florida
Uses: mass planting; specimen; naturalizing; border;
reclamation plant; accent; ground cover; attracts butterflies
Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the
region to find the plant
Description
Height: 5 to 10 feet
Spread: 4 to 10 feet
Plant habit: palm
Growth rate: slow
Plant density: open
Texture: medium
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: parted
Leaf shape: star-shaped
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaf type and persistence: evergreen
Leaf blade length: more than 36 inches
Leaf color: silver/gray; blue or blue-green
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Flower
Flower color: yellow-white
Flower characteristic: spring flowering; pleasant fragrance
Fruit
Fruit shape: oval
Fruit length: .5 to 1 inch
Fruit cover: fleshy
Fruit color: black
Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: showy; typically multi-trunked
or clumping stems
Current year stem/twig color: not applicable
Current year stem/twig thickness: not applicable
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun; plant
grows in the shade
Soil tolerances: alkaline; clay; sand; acidic; loam
Drought tolerance: high
Soil salt tolerances: good
Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches
Other
Roots: usually not a problem
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding plant: plant has outstanding ornamental features
and could be planted more
Invasive potential: aggressive, spreading plant
Pest resistance: no serious pests are normally seen on the plant
Use and Management
Surviving only on rainfall once established, Saw Palmetto
grows on any well-drained soil in full sun to shade, and is highly
salt-tolerant. Best transplanted when young, larger specimens
ideally should not be removed during land clearing since plants
grow very slowly and transplant so poorly. This happens
because stems frequently grow along the ground as they droop
under the weight of the foliage. Therefore, the root system may
not be located beneath the foliage but could be 5 to 10 feet away
at the base of the stem. Twice the number of collected Saw
Palmetto are often planted as desired since mortality is high.
Saw Palmetto is becoming more available in containers from
nurseries. Homeowners should make an effort to leave native
stands in place beneath existing trees when developing a new
lot since they require no maintenance.
Saw Palmetto should be planted on 3 to 5-foot centers to
establish a new mass planting. They make a wonderful ground
cover effect beneath existing or newly planted trees. Upright
plants can be grown into beautiful multi-stemmed specimens
but these are not common and quite expensive.
The variety sericea, Silver Palmetto, is recognized by
some authorities and has beautiful silver leaves.
Propagation is usually by seed but seedlings grow very
slowly.
Pests and Diseases
No pests or diseases are of major concern.
by Edward F. Gilman
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