• Photo by: Susan Trammel, Paynes Prairie FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Sabal etonia

scrub palmetto

Nomenclature

Common Name:

scrub palmetto

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Sabal etonia

Family:

Arecaceae (Palmae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

palm

Size:

To 5 ft tall by To 5 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

blue,black

Phenology:

evergreen

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Small specimen or border plant.

Considerations:

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Availability:

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Propagation:

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Light:

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Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Not wet but not extremely dry -to- 1Stays wet

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Birds, Mammals

Flowers attract pollinators. Documented bee visitors include Agapostelnon splendens, Azcgochlorella aurata, Augochloropsis anonyma, A. metallica, A. sumnptuosa, Dialictus coreopsis, D. miniatulus, D. nymphalis, D. placidelzsis, Halictus ligatus, Megachile albitarsis, M. brevis pseudobrevis, M. mendica, Apis mellifera, Bombus impatiens and  B. pennsylvanicus (Deyrup et al. 2002).

Fruit is eaten by birds and other animals.

Native Habitats:

Scrub, high pine with reduced fire frequencies, scrubby flatwoods.

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

This is a Florida endemic associated with dunes and scrub, both ancient and modern.