Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto)

How much light does a Cabbage Palmetto need?

Give Sabal palmetto a spot in full sun. Full sun means at least six hours of direct light each day. This palm also tolerates part shade. Outdoors in the garden, either light level works well for it. Sabal palmetto is a tree with a moderate growth rate.

• Light: Full sun and part shade (full sun preferred)^1,2

How often to water a Cabbage Palmetto

Sabal palmetto tolerates a wide range of soil moisture. Once it is established, it handles both drought and flooding. Its water needs run from dry soil on one end to standing water on the other. This palm also grows in soil that drains well, stays moist, or is occasionally wet. This palm's spread at maturity reaches about 10 ft (3 m).

• Water: Dry to wet¹

Best soil for a Cabbage Palmetto

Good drainage is best for Sabal palmetto. It also tolerates soil that stays moist or becomes occasionally wet. Its native range includes the southeastern United States and the Caribbean. In the continental United States, it is considered a native plant. It is a tree with a moderate growth rate. Its flowers are creamy white and fragrant. It propagates only from seed.

• Soil drainage: Well drained, moist and occasionally wet¹

Hardiness and temperature

USDA hardiness zones 7b through 11b suit Sabal palmetto. It is cold hardy to about 15°F (-9°C). Zone 7b marks its coldest limit, and zone 11b marks its warmest. This palm keeps its leaves year-round as an evergreen. It tolerates both full sun and part shade outdoors. Once established, it also tolerates both drought and flooding. A mature Sabal palmetto spreads about 10 ft (3 m) wide.

• Hardiness: Zones 7b–11b¹
• Minimum temperature: 15.8 °F (-9 °C)^3,3

Fertilizing a Cabbage Palmetto

Feed Sabal palmetto once a year. Use a palm-specific fertilizer or a general slow-release fertilizer. This light, annual feeding is enough for this palm. Sabal palmetto itself has a moderate growth rate. It is an evergreen tree that keeps its leaves year-round.

• Fertilizer: Light, once a year¹

Pruning a Cabbage Palmetto

Only remove leaves from Sabal palmetto that are completely dead or loose. You can also remove leaves and fruit that are badly damaged or diseased. Leave healthy green leaves in place. This palm is an evergreen tree with a moderate growth rate. Its native range includes the southeastern United States and the Caribbean.

• Pruning: Remove dead growth only⁴

How to plant a Cabbage Palmetto

Plant Sabal palmetto in USDA hardiness zones 7b through 11b. Give it a spot in full sun or part shade. Choose soil with good drainage, or soil that stays moist or becomes occasionally wet. Leave enough room for its mature spread of about 10 ft (3 m). Once established, this palm handles both drought and flooding. Its flowers are creamy white and fragrant, growing in a cluster about 3 ft (0.9 m) long that opens in July.

• Hardiness: Zones 7b–11b¹

Winter care

Winter care for Sabal palmetto depends on your hardiness zone. This palm grows outdoors in USDA zones 7b through 11b. It is cold hardy to about 15°F (-9°C). Zone 7b is the coldest zone where it is hardy, and zone 11b is the warmest. This palm is evergreen, keeping its leaves through winter. Once established, it also tolerates both drought and flooding through the year. Sabal palmetto's spread at maturity is about 10 ft (3 m). It also grows in soil that drains well, stays moist, or is occasionally wet.

• Hardiness: Zones 7b–11b¹
• Minimum temperature: 15.8 °F (-9 °C)^3,3

How to propagate a Cabbage Palmetto

Growers propagate Sabal palmetto only from seed. Its seeds need no pretreatment to break dormancy. This tree's native range includes the southeastern United States and the Caribbean. It grows at a moderate rate. This palm's mature spread is about 10 ft (3 m). It also keeps its leaves year-round as an evergreen tree.

• Propagation: Seed^2,5

Common problems

Several pests can affect Sabal palmetto. These include Diocalandra frumenti, Haplaxius crudus, Paysandisia archon, the red palm weevil, the South American palm weevil, and Ripersiella hibisci. Lethal bronzing disease is a serious threat to this palm in Florida. Sabal palmetto itself grows at a moderate rate and keeps its leaves year-round.

• Common pests: diocalandra frumenti, haplaxius crudus, paysandisia archon, red palm weevil, south american palm weevil and ripersiella hibisci⁶
• Common diseases: lethal bronzing disease¹

Questions and answers

What light does Sabal palmetto need?

Give it full sun, though it also tolerates part shade. Outdoors, either light level works well for this palm. This tree also has a moderate growth rate.

How often should you fertilize Sabal palmetto?

Feed it once a year with a palm-specific or general slow-release fertilizer. This light, annual feeding is enough for this palm. It also keeps its leaves year-round as an evergreen tree.

How cold can Sabal palmetto tolerate?

It is cold hardy to about 15°F (-9°C). This palm grows in USDA hardiness zones 7b through 11b. Zone 7b marks the coldest zone where it survives outdoors.