“It is a weed,” the neighbors said. “Why don’t you cut it down?”
I hate to cut a tree that is established and growing, especially one growing in such poor soil and without any irrigation system to supplement the rain water. It deserves to live. Besides, I still think that a palm in my yard, even a weed palm, is exotic, so when we had the brush removed and tree stumps ground out last summer, I kept it.
The palm question came up again in December when we made the decision to replace the old wood fence (shown in photo). The palm was definitely a tree in the wrong place. It turns out the old fence was actually outside the property line. The palm was right on the property line, so the question was, did I want the tree removed, so the fence could run along the property line as planned? It may be considered by some to be a “weed” but it is a Sabal palmetto, Florida’s State tree, and it could not be cut without permission. I didn’t want it cut. We came up with a plan to save the Sabal while building most of the fence on the property line as planned. They replaced one long fence section with two short sections to form a V around the palm with the V jutting into the yard and away from the property line. The fronds extend high in the air over the fence, so the fact that we can’t see the lowest part of the trunk is not a problem.
The cabbage palm, as it is commonly called, is drought resistant but can also grow in wet areas. When transplanting, ensure it receives adequate water until it is established. It tolerates sandy soils and salty soils and is happy in either acidic or alkaline soils. It loves the sun but also grows in part sun. It reaches a height of 30 to 60 feet, and is often seen on the beach, lining parking lots, narrow lawns, etc. The squirrels in my yard attest to the fact that it is a good food supply for wildlife. The tree grows from zones 8-10 and survived the recent freezing temperatures in Tampa without any harm.
My biggest problem with the palm is all the seedlings popping up all over the yard. The cabbage palm doesn’t develop a trunk for several years, so the seedlings look like palm leaves sticking out of the ground. I keep cutting off the tops, hoping to get keep them under control, although when I took a look yesterday, it looked like a cabbage palm plantation starting. I don’t have a plan for the back yard yet, but it doesn’t include a palm plantation, so I’ll keep battling the seedlings.
See Sabal palmetto on Floridata for more information.
