Sabal palmetto

Cabbage Palm

Family: Arecaceae
Zone: 8-10                              Average Size: 25’H x 10’W

Identification:

-Solitary, single trunk with a dense globular canopy
-Fan shape leaf, costapalmate, folded and arching along costa, 6 feet long, smooth petiole
-Old petiole bases split and form crisscross pattern at crown shaft, shed to expose coarse surface with prominent horizontal ridges
-Long flower stalk, 3-4 feet long hanging under leaves
-Round black fruit, ¼ inch in diameter in late summer

Note:   Native to the southeastern United States and state tree of Florida and South Carolina, the Cabbage Palm is becoming one of the most widely planted palms in the landscape.  Cold hardiness, rapid growth rate and adaptability to wide range of soil and environmental conditions have contributed to its popularity.  Cabbage Palm is also available at a relatively low cost compared to other palms.  Specimens are frequently harvested from native stands at a much lower cost than a similar sized palm grown in a nursery.   A prolific seeder, the Cabbage Palm will produce numerous seedlings.  Seedlings can be found scattered throughout the LSU campus.  

Campus Location:  West Laville Hall, front entry