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Scrub Palmetto
Sabal etonia
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| Scrub palm is a small shrub-like palm whose trunk
usually remains underground. |
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Leaves
The fan-shaped leaves are about 3' across and are essentially palmate except that
the petiole (leaf stem) extends part way through the center of the leaf fan as a midrib.
Scrub palm resembles saw palmetto, but the latter has a true palmate leaf with no midrib.
Flowers
The yellow-green flowers are bisexual and appear on branched stalks that protrude from the
trunk about half of or about the same as the distance as that of the leaves.
Fruit
The fruit of the Scrub Palm is a
shiny black drupe, about 1/8-1/4 inch in diameter. Each drupe contains one small, dark
brown seed.
Bark
The bark of the magnolia is gray to
light brown and furrows with age. Young trees have a felt-like, rusty-colored bark.
Propagation
Scrub Palmetto is best propagated by
seed
Landscape usage
Scrub Palm is easy to maintain. It needs no supplemental watering and is basically disease
and pest-free. In mixed borders, foundation plantings, and natural areas. Palms look best
when massed in the landscape. Use scrub palms as underplantings and in front of clusters
of larger palms.
Interesting Facts
Scrub palm is in the same genus as the Florida state tree, the cabbage
palm, but the Scrub Palm's trunk and the growing bud tip remain below ground, safe from
fires that periodically sweep through the Florida scrub community. After total
defoliation by fire, scrub palm begins sprouting new leaves within 2 days. |
