Sabal minor Bluestem Palmetto, Dwarf Palmetto1
Introduction
The bluestem palmetto has a trunk that, in Florida, rarely emerges from the ground and rarely produces side shoots (Fig. 1). Sabal minor is reported to have reached 18 feet tall in Texas. Height appears to be governed by genetic origin, ranging from 3 to 8 feet tall in Florida. The dark green, costapalmate leaves vary in size depending on the age of the plant but may reach a length of 5 feet. The fan-shaped leaves of the bluestem palmetto are palmately lobed and segmented with the segments split to 2/3 their length. The leaves of this palm are green to bluish-green in color, and the petioles are unarmed. The inflorescences of this palm exceed the length of the leaves and bear small, white flowers that are strongly fragrant. The summer flowers are followed by small, shiny black fruit.Figure 1. Bluestem palmetto
General Information
Scientific name: Sabal minor
Pronunciation: SAY-bull MY-ner
Common name(s): dwarf palmetto, bluestem palmetto
Family: Palmae
Plant type: palm
USDA hardiness zones: 7B through 11 (Fig. 2)
Planting month for zone 7: year round
Planting month for zone 8: year round
Planting month for zone 9: year round
Figure 2. Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year round
Origin: native to Florida
Uses: accent; border
Availability: grown in small quantities by a small number of nurseries
Description
Height: 2 to 7 feet
Spread: 3 to 5 feet
Plant habit: palm; upright
Plant density: open
Growth rate: slow
Texture: coarse
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: alternate
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: lobed
Leaf shape: star-shaped
Leaf venation: palmate
Leaf type and persistence: evergreen
Leaf blade length: more than 36 inches
Leaf color: blue or blue-green
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Flower
Flower color: white
Flower characteristic: summer flowering; pleasant fragrance
Fruit
Fruit shape: round
Fruit length: less than .5 inch
Fruit cover: fleshy
Fruit color: black
Fruit characteristic: attracts birds
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: typically multi-trunked or clumping stems; can be trained to grow with a short, single trunk; not particularly showy
Current year stem/twig color: not applicable
Current year stem/twig thickness: not applicable
Culture
Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun
Soil tolerances: acidic; alkaline; sand; loam; clay; occasionally wet
Drought tolerance: high
Soil salt tolerances: moderate
Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches
Other
Roots: usually not a problem
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding
Invasive potential: not known to be invasive
Pest resistance: no serious pests are normally seen on the plant
Use and Management
Bluestem palmetto will perform quite well as a specimen in a small garden. Its large leaves and small size make it stand out in the company of other plants. It is also impressive when massed as a tall ground cover. Plant shrubs 4 to 6 feet apart to establish a dense ground cover.Sabal minor is valued for its hardiness and tropical appearance. It must have a full-sun to partial-shade position in the landscape. The plant is adaptable to many soil types as long as they are well-drained, and it is drought tolerant. These palms will even grow well on relatively shallow soils.This palm is readily propagated from seed.Pests and Diseases
No pests or diseases are of major concern.Footnotes
1. This document is FPS518, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October, 1999. Reviewed August, 2007. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
2. Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611.The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal
Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational
information and other services only to individuals and institutions
that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed,
color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital
status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations.
For more information on obtaining other extension publications,
contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service,
University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative
Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
