Sabal minor 'Louisiana'

Along the Gulf Coast, and above all in Louisiana, some dwarf palmettos develop a stout aerial trunk up to about 2 m tall. Such plants were once named Sabal louisiana, and growers still sell trunk-forming stock as Sabal minor var. louisiana; this listing is that 'Louisiana' form.

Sabal minor is a low fan palm of the swamps and floodplain forests of the south-eastern United States, with stiff, dark green to bluish fans and tall flower stalks, and is one of the most cold-tolerant palms.

At a glance

• Native range: south-eastern United States
• Mature size: var. louisiana is said to reach about 3.7 m with age
• Growth rate: slow; a short, thick trunk may form after about 20 years
• Light: full sun to deep shade; plants in sun grow larger leaves and are more likely to form a trunk
• Water: tolerates flooding yet survives drought once established
• Cold hardiness: about −18 °C for most established forms of the species
• Indoors / outdoors: outdoors, including cold-winter gardens

Care

Grow it in sun if you want it to develop its trunk. It adapts to most soils and favours slightly acid ground. Plant with the upper third of the heel above soil level and water regularly until established.

Why Palmpedia: Every plant is grown in our greenhouse in Almeirim, Portugal, and leaves us in a 15 L to 35 L pot.