We have had warm, rainy weather over the past couple of weeks and more rain is in the forecast. Looking around, spring seems to have arrived. We are seeing springtime flowers and new leaves. So before all of the deciduous trees completely cover up the landscape with their new foliage, let's celebrate another evergreen species.
Like the flowering magnolia and the live oak, the sabal palm (
Sabal palmetto) is one of the iconic trees of the southeastern United States. It's the state tree of both Florida and South Carolina (nicknamed 'The Palmetto State'). In January of 2001, Ed Leuck purchased three of these trees from Woodlanders Nursery (Aiken, South Carolina). In the spring of 2004, he planted one in the upper pond and two in the lower pond. They are all still with us today. The photos below were taken in the area formerly known as the lower pond. As seen in the photos, one of the two trees is out-competing the other.
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| There are two sabal palms pictured. The foreground tree is obviously the larger of the two. They are the same age, approximately 20 years old. |
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| These two sabal palms are located south of the long white wooden bridge, in one of the lowest spots in the arboretum. When they were first planted, this area was dammed up, with continuous standing water. Today, this area serves as a drainage basin, with occasional standing water. |
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| For whatever reason, the sabal palm on the right is not competing for resources at the same level as the tree pictured center. The larger tree might have slightly better access to water since it is closer to the drainage channel, and the smaller tree is closer to the river birch, whose roots might be more effective. |
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| Looking up, we see big, green palmate leaves supported by thick, long leafstalks. |
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| Sabal palms have very big leaves. This is a recently removed leaf, leaning against the white bridge. The large palmate leaf is held up by a very long leafstalk, altogether measuring 11 feet in length. |
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| This is a relatively young leafstalk, located high up on the trunk. It's blue-green, thick, and smooth. Note the reddish-brown fibers (smooth), mixed with some bald cypress leaves (feathered). |
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| As the leafstalks age, they begin to split at the base. This is approximately 6 feet high on the trunk. |
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| Further down the trunk, the split is more pronounced. |
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| The split leafstalk is approximately 6 inches wide. |
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| Towards the bottom of the trunk, the leaves have been pruned, but the split bases remain rigid, firmly attached to the trunk years into the future. |
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| A lattice-like structure is created by the splitting leafstalks, which adds ornamental interest to this evergreen tree. There is variation within the species on retention of
these leaf bases: some trees retain these old leaf bases whiles others do not. |
For more information about this species consult the following:
United States Department of Agriculture
Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce
University of Florida IFAS Extension
