General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Tree
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Water Preferences: Wet
Wet Mesic
Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 8a -12.2 °C (10 °F) to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 10b
Plant Height: 4 to 6 feet (1.2-1.8 m)
Plant Spread: 4 to 6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) (In it's native habitat, clumps can attain spread of 20 feet or more.)
Leaves: Evergreen
Other: The 24 inch long leaf petioles (stems) have sharp saw-like teeth giving the plant a common name of Saw Palmetto.
Fruit: Edible to birds
Other: Seeds have medicinal use.
Flowers: Showy
Fragrant
Flower Color: White
Yellow
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Underground structures: Taproot
Suitable Locations: Patio/Ornamental/Small Tree
Xeriscapic
Uses: Windbreak or Hedge
Medicinal Herb
Will Naturalize
Edible Parts: Fruit
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Birds
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Drought tolerant
Salt tolerant
Pollinators: Bees
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil

Image
Common names
  • Saw Palmetto
  • Scrub Palmetto
  • Silver Saw Palmetto

Photo Gallery
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2021-09-05
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-05-11
Location: Real Botanico de Madrid
Date: 2023-11-11
Location: Plano, TX
Soaking in peroxide and water.
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-05-15
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2017-06-30
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-08-27
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2023-07-11
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2017-05-03
Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
Date: 2017-02-16
group at Airlie Gardens
Location: Florida
Location: Florida
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2017-05-12
#Pollination
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-09-26
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2021-04-05
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2023-09-29
Different stages of ripening fruit.
Location: Geneva, AL
Date: 2014-09-22
Location: Real Jardín Botanico de Madrid
Location: Real Jardín Botanico de Madrid
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2016-05-22
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2017-02-20
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2017-03-16
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-08-16 
Photo taken at Merritt Island Nat'l Wildlife Refuge, Merritt Isla
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2019-05-17
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2015-08-29
Seeds after scraping off pulp.
Location: BG La Conception Malaga
Date: 2015-03-25
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2017-07-14
Location: BG La Conception Malaga
Date: 2015-03-25
Location: Southwest Florida
Date: July 2014
These seeds are used in medicine.
Location: Geneva, AL
Date: 2015-02-02
Location: Geneva, AL
Date: 2014-09-22
Location: Northwest Florida
Date: 2013-05-13
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2017-02-20
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-08-16 
Photo taken at Merritt Island Nat'l Wildlife Refuge, Merritt Isla
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2015-05-21
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2015-05-21
This would actually be called an inflorescences
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2015-05-26
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2015-05-26
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2015-05-26
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2012-08-16 
Moss growing on horizontal branch/stem
Location: Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, FL
Date: 2018-03-22
good specimen
Location: Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) and forest in Manatee Springs State Park
Date: 2012-01-14
Photo courtesy of: Miguel Vieira

Date: 2012-07-20
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2016-10-17
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2017-05-06
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2016-08-21
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2011-12-09
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2011-12-09
Location: Geneva, AL
Date: 2015-02-02
Location: Geneva, AL
Date: 2015-02-03
Location: Geneva, AL
Date: 2015-02-02
Location: Geneva, AL
Date: 2015-02-02
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2017-05-31
Fruit beginning to form.
Location: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Wacahoota Trail
Photo courtesy of: Miguel Vieira
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2011-12-09
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Comments:
  • Posted by gingin (Fountain, Florida - Zone 8b) on Dec 9, 2011 3:16 PM concerning plant:
    This is the most abundant native palm in Florida. Usually it grows as a shrub. The leaf stalks/stems are lined with sharp, rigid spines.
  • Posted by Mindy03 (Delta KY) on Apr 16, 2012 6:56 AM concerning plant:
    Major source of nectar for honey bees which produces a light green to amber colored honey.
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Apr 12, 2018 2:33 PM concerning plant:
    A reclining to upright, thicket forming palm, often with a creeping, prostrate trunk, but sometimes it makes a short trunk. Native from southern North Carolina to all through Florida over to Louisiana. It is not only a common wild plant, but it is also used in southern landscaping.
  • Posted by gingin (Fountain, Florida - Zone 8b) on May 27, 2015 11:48 AM concerning plant:
    I've never really paid too much attention to this plant as the area where it is was very much overgrown. Today while taking pictures of it, I realized what the wonderful scent I've been smelling is: saw palmetto blooms. Bees were all over it, collecting nectar and pollen.
Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Spines by gingin Dec 9, 2011 3:58 PM 0

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