Caribbean Cabbage palm
Sabal palmetto

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A fan palm. The trunk is 15-20 m tall and 35 cm across. The leaves form a round crown. The leaf stalk extends into the leaf blade. The leaf stalk is 1-1.5 m long. The leaves are blue-green. The leaf segments are joined for about 1/3 of their length. The tip is strongly notched. The flowering stalk is about as long as the leaves. It is branched. The flowers are white to cream. The fruit are small and round and black when ripe. They are 8-14 mm across. They are edible.

There are 16 Sabal species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the tropics and subtropics. It will grow in coastal sand dunes and tidal flats and in seasonally flooded land. It does best in fertile and well watered conditions. It grows to 34°C North. It suits plant hardiness zones 8-12. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Caribbean, Central America, Cuba, East Africa, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, North America, Pacific, SE Asia, Singapore, Slovenia, Suriname, Tasmania, USA (country/location of origin), West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The growing point or cabbage can be eaten, raw or cooked. The pulp of the fruit is eaten. It is also made into syrup and dried and made into bread. The pith of the upper trunk is chewed and also made into a pie or boiled with raisins and syrup as a pudding. The ashes are used as a salt substitute.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, cabbage, sap, palm heart

How it is grown

The plant is grown from seed. The seed germinate easily given heat and humidity.

It is easy to grow. Plants flower and fruit when young.

Its other names

Local names

Cabbage Palmetto, Guana cana, Palem sabal kol, Palma cana

Synonyms

Chamaerops palmetto (Walter) Michx.; Corypha palmetto Walter; Inodes palmetto (Walter) O.F. Cook; Inodes schwarzii O.F. Cook; Sabal bahamensis (Becc.) L.H. Bailey; Sabal jamesiana Small; Sabal palmetto var. bahamensis Becc.; Sabal parviflora Becc.; Sabal viatoris L.H. Bailey;