Texas Sabal Palm Tree

Detailed Description

Description
The stately and robust Texas Sabal Palm grows up to 50’ tall with a solitary trunk, 8-32” in diameter. The canopy of a mature Sabal may be 8-25’ across. The gray trunk has closely spaced annular rings. Usually part of the trunk remains covered with old leaf stem “boots,” that often split at their bases. These persistent boots form a characteristic crosshatch pattern on the trunk. The petioles (leaf stems) are smooth and completely thornless and may be up to 15’ in length. The Texas Sabal has 10-25 fan-shaped leaves ranging in color from deep emerald green for palms in shade or part shade, to lighter green for palms receiving more sunlight. Each leaf has 80-115 leaflets with characteristic threads unraveling along the margins. The leaves have prominent and strongly downward arching costas (leaf midribs) which give them a three-dimensional effect. The Texas Sabal may flower when very young, often blooming when the trunk is small or even nonexistent. The Texas Sabal produces small white flowers in a branched inflorescence about as long as the leaves. Male and female flowers are borne on the same plant. The fruits are round-oval and black when ripe. The Texas Sabal can be distinguished from other palmate-leafed palms by its long, smooth, nonthorny petioles and the long, downward arching costas.

Usage
Use the Texas Sabal in formal groupings, as a lawn tree, in large-scale plantings and as that special accent tree. It is best suited to medium or large yards since it may grow 50’ tall and spread 25’ across. It may be used in a variety of situations since it is tolerant of wind, drought, salt, and most soil types.

Features
A very robust, stately and hardy palm, the Texas Sabal is beginning to receive attention from growers and palm enthusiasts. Once abundant in Texas, the habitat of the Sabal is now threatened. Its habitat has diminished from about 40,000 acres in 1925 to about 32 acres today. The leaves are used for thatching, and making furniture, fans, and hats; and its rot-resistant trunks are used as fence posts and for pilings in wharves and piers. The Texas Sabal is one of only two palms native to Texas, the other being the much smaller blue palm or dwarf palmetto(Sabal Minor).