Sabal Minor

 Sabal Minor   Palmetto

Sabal Minor

This dwarf Palmetto is perhaps the most cold hardy Palm in the world next to Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix). Sabal Palmetto is hardy to around 0°F when mature or perhaps subzero for brief periods. The Needle Palm has about the same hardiness but is said to withstand longer duration cold snaps than any other cold hardy Palm and will survive subzero temps briefly. What makes Sabal Minors so cold tolerant is the fact it's trunk and lower stems are below ground for protection. Only the oldest specimens can have small trunks and appear to be small trees, otherwise they are shrubs with fronds coming straight out of the ground. A wild cultivar called 'McCurtain' named after the county it is found McCurtain county, Oklahoma. Mature specimens have been found to survive -20°F, marking this cultivar as the most cold hardy Palm on Earth. However, the species itself is not even close to that hardy, only ones found in McCurtain County, OK have been found to be an exception. Even so being a Palm even the 'McCurtain' variety won't survive prolonged periods of subfreezing temps even if it doesn't get below zero, so protection is needed in areas colder than zone 7. Sabal Minors thrive in moist or wet areas, but can also thrive in dry sites too.

Hardiness: USDA Zones 7-11 

(Protected areas in zone 6b)

Mature Size:  3'-4' tall 

Very old specimens can have a small trunk and be tree like and be 6'-10' tall

Light: Full sun-Full shade

Thrives as understory Palms however growth will be faster in higher light level

Water: Dry-Moist

Performs best in moist well draining soils. Tolerates areas that have brief flooding or wet soils, but not consistently wet. Tolerant of drought/dry soils.

Soils: Not particular with specific pH level. Not particular with soil type, but grows best in moist well draining soils.

Deciduous/Evergreen: Evergreen

Native Range