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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Sabal minor

Dwarf Palmetto, Blue Stem Palmetto

Scientific Name:

Sabal minor

Genus:

Sabal

Species Epithet:

minor

Common Name:

Dwarf Palmetto, Blue Stem Palmetto

Plant Type

Tree/Shrub

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Arecaceae (Palm Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Size:

3-6 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

White

Light:

Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Moist

Bloom Time:

May, June, July

Growing Area:

Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain

Habitat Description:

Swamps, maritime forests, low moist woods, especially in calcareous soils developed from shell limestone (marl), rarely planted as an ornamental farther inland, where persisting (and appearing native) or possibly naturalizing. Common in NC Coastal Plain, rare as naturalized plant in Piedmont.

Leaf Arrangement:

Basal

Leaf Retention:

Evergreen

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Compound

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Important for Wildlife

Landscape Value:

Recommended and Available

State Rank:

S3: Vulnerable (*Key)

Global Rank:

G5 - Secure (*Key)

Notes:

This is our northern-most native palm, reaching Currituck Co. Fruits are eaten by robins, raccoons, and many other birds and mammals.

In its habitat

Dwarf Palmetto grows in low wet woods, swamp, and maritime forest, especially over calcareous soils. This is our northern-most native palm, reaching Currituck Co.

image

Jack Spruill, Hampstead, May 21, 2009

Close-up of leaves

image

Jack Spruill, May 25, 2009

In bloom

The fruit is eaten by small mammals and birds.

image

Jack Spruill, May 26, 2009

Fruit

image

David Paynter, Wilmington, July 19, 2014

Close-up of leaf with insect nest. The leaf segments do not have filamentous margins as does S. palmetto which a young specimen may be confused with.

New Hanover County, NC

The Scientific Name is Sabal minor. You will likely hear them called Dwarf Palmetto, Blue Stem Palmetto. This picture shows the Close-up of leaf with insect nest. The leaf segments do not have filamentous margins as does S. palmetto which a young specimen may be confused with. of Sabal minor

Bettina Darveaux

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record



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