Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Liliopsida>Arecales>Arecaceae>Sabal palmetto (Walter) Lodd. ex Schult. & Schult. f.

Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto)

Cabbage Palmetto is rare in North Carolina, found in the wild mainly on Bald Head Island, Brunswick County, the northern limit of its known range. Similar the the much more common Dwarf Palmetto (Sabal minor), which has smaller leaves and a trunk that normally does not emerge from the ground.

Fort Fisher State Park, New Hanover Co., NC 8/30/08.

Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto)

This small tree, just north of the usual range, could be wild or could be an escape from cultivation.

Fort Fisher State Park, New Hanover Co., NC 8/29/09.

Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto)

Fort Fisher State Park, New Hanover Co., NC 8/30/08.

Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto)

Fort Fisher State Park, New Hanover Co., NC 8/29/09.

Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto)

Unripe drupes. The drupes are about 1 cm in diameter when ripe.

Fort Fisher State Park, New Hanover Co., NC 8/29/09.

Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto)

Palmetto trees are commonly planted as ornamentals along the coast of North Carolina.

Planted tree, Carteret Co., NC 7/19/08.

Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto)

Flower detail.

Planted tree, Carteret Co., NC 7/19/08.

Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto) tree

Planted tree, Carteret Co., NC 7/19/08.

More information:
Floridata
USDA PLANTS
USFS Silvics Manual
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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