Sabal etonia
A small, evergreen palm endemic to Florida scrub habitats, with a subterranean trunk and a crown bud below the soil surface, bearing fragrant white flowers in spring to summer, fire-adapted and drought-tolerant with resprouting after burns, and producing berries for wildlife.
Common Names
Scrub Palmetto, Florida Scrub Palmetto, Etonia Palmetto
Summary
Scrub palmetto is a Florida-endemic palm/shrub native to central and north-central Florida scrub habitats, with an underground crown trunk and crown bud below soil surface. Typically 3–4 ft tall and 4–5 ft wide, it has 4–7 costapalmate leaves up to 3 ft across and fragrant white flowers that bloom May–June.
In cultivation, it grows best in full sun to part shade on well-drained soils, is drought-tolerant and tolerates dry sandy soils, and is propagated by seed (rarely sucker); maintenance is medium, with evergreen foliage used for tropical flair and winter interest, suitable for specimen plantings, groups, or containers.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
3-6 ft tall
Spread
4-5 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 8-11
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun; tolerates partial shade.
Soil Type
Well-drained sandy soils
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soils
Soil pH
5.5-7.0, slightly acidic preferred
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Time
Spring to Summer
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Green (evergreen; no fall color change)
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Very slow growth.
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds
Attracts Wildlife
Bees, butterflies, and birds are attracted.
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Swingle ex Nash
- Publication
- Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 23: 99 (1896)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Arecales
- Family
- Arecaceae
- Genus
- Sabal
Synonyms
Sabal miamiensis Sabal adansonii var. megacarpa Sabal megacarpa