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cabbage palmetto

Sabal palmetto

The cabbage palmetto is a tall tree with fan-shaped leaves that look like big green umbrellas! It grows in warm places and is often found near the beach.

Habitat: Coastal areas

Appearance

The cabbage palmetto is a tall, slender palm with an unbranched trunk that often retains old leaf bases, giving it a unique textured look when young. Its crown features large, stiff, fan-shaped leaves, green to bluish-green, that emerge from a central point.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderArecalesFamilyArecaceaeGenusSabal
cabbage palmetto
flowering trait badgebroadleaf_tree trait badgeevergreen trait badgefiber trait badge
cabbage palmetto

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Indigenous people used its sturdy leaves for making baskets and thatch roofs.

It's the official state tree of both Florida and South Carolina!

Native bees and other insects flock to its small white summer flowers for nectar!

The fibrous trunk was historically used to build docks and wharf pilings.

Special abilities

Ability

Hurricane Hugger

Cabbage palmetto can bend significantly without breaking during strong winds, helping it survive powerful storms.

Ability

Saltwater Survivor

This palm has special adaptations to tolerate both salt spray and occasional flooding by brackish water.

Ability

Nature's Snack Bar

Its abundant tiny black fruits provide vital food for countless birds and mammals in its habitat.

Measurements & details

Height
1000-2000 cm
Spread
250-400 cm
Flower Size
0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season
Summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar from its flowers

eaten by

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

consumes its small black fruits

eaten by

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

eats its sweet, ripe fruits

shelters

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

uses its crown for nesting

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Stay away from the sharp edges of the leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is cabbage palmetto?

1000-2000 cm

How wide does cabbage palmetto spread?

250-400 cm

How big are the flowers on cabbage palmetto?

0.5-1 cm

When does cabbage palmetto bloom?

Summer

Is cabbage palmetto edible?

Yes

Is cabbage palmetto toxic?

None

What is cabbage palmetto's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is cabbage palmetto pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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