Seed Availability

Seeds are now available at our seed store.

Description

A very slow growing and very short palm, growing to 10-12ft, but often not exceeding 2-4ft. Part of the fan palm group, it has fan-shaped leaves composed of up to 20 leaflets. The common saw palmetto has green leaves but there are some silvery-green leaved types as well. Saw Palmetto's are also long-lived with many wild specimens believed to be well over 500 years old.

Hardiness

Hardy to short frosts. Should survive to the low 20's (F).

Growing Environment

Grow in full sun and in well-drained soil. Water regularly. Plants stand salty conditions fairly well. Very slow-growing, makes an excellent container specimen.

Propagation

By seeds, which should be soaked in warm water for 24 hours prior to planting. Seeds germinate slowly and may take several weeks or months to sprout.

Uses

Grown as an ornamental for its fan-shaped leaves. The fruits were once an important food source for local inhabitants. Today the fruits are used to prepare extracts which reportedly help in the treatment of some prostate and urinary problems. There are also a variety of other medicinal applications for the fruits which are under investigation, such as anabolic use, anti-impotence as an oestrogenic agent.

Native Range

Native to the southeastern United States, from Florida north to South Carolina and parts of Southern Arkansas.

Related Species

Arecaceae
	Aiphanes aculeata Coyupe Palm		Areca catechu Betel Nut
	Arenga engleri Dwarf Sugar Palm		Astrocaryum vulgare Tucuma Palm
	Bactris maraja Maraja Palm		Brahea armata Mexican Blue Palm
	Brahea edulis Guadalupe Palm		Butia capitata Jelly Palm
	Butia eriospatha Wooly Jelly Palm		Butia purpurascens Purple Yatay Palm
	Butia yatay Yatay Palm		Caryota urens Wine Palm
	Cocos nucifera Coconut		Cyrtostachys renda Sealing Wax Palm
	Dypsis decaryi Triangle Palm		Euterpe edulis Jussara Palm
	Euterpe oleracea Acai Palm		Euterpe precatoria Forest Acai
	Jubaea chilensis Chilean Wine Palm		Licuala grandis Vanuatu Fan Palm
	Lodoicea maldivica Coco de Mer		Mauritia flexuosa Moriche Palm
	Serenoa repens Saw Palmetto		Syagrus oleracea Bitter Coconut
	Syagrus romanzoffianum Queen Palm		Syagrus vagans Wandering Palm