These specimen of Jelly Palm, Pindo Palm were taken in Huntington Botanical Gardens, east of Los Angeles, California in June, 2002

There are at least 20 species of palmetto that belong to this genus. Some will grow to at least 80 ft. in the ideal tropical climates of their homelands. Many species will develop a smooth trunk as they mature or trunks with leaf scars; other species develop no trunk above ground at all as seen in these photographs of Sabal minor. This is one species of Sabal that produces no stem or trunk and only grows to about 6 or 7 ft. in height. In the wild, this species grows in filtered light or full sun, but will require much light if raised indoors in northern climates. Because of their deep trunk and root system, they do not transplant well and are best raised from seed.

Dwarf Palmettos are seen along the roadsides and in swampy areas throughout the deep south in the southeastern United States. Once established, they are drought resistent. In areas where frost kills the foliage, they may produce new growth from the root the following spring. One mild winter, 4 years ago, I tossed out some seeds of Dwarf Palmetto that were one year old, thinking that I would remove them from my inventory because I thought they would not germinate. The following spring hundreds of sprouts appeared. That may not sound unusual but I am in zone 6 in the Ohio River Valley where winter temperatures can drop below 0 and many of these little palmettos are still surviving. They still have not produced the characteristic fan-shaped foliage but I beleive that is because they are establishing their root and deep underground trunk. The single 8 to 10 inch grass-like blades are getting wider and I am hoping that this coming spring, their 5th year, that I will see fan-shaped foliage. Dwarf Palmetto is not a species that grows in zone 6 but I have put most of mine on the south facing side of the house, away from the pregailing winds, and I mulch them heavily with leaves for the winter.

Young Sabals of many species look very much alike. As they mature they begin to take on the characteristics that make them identifiable.

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