Pronunciation: suh-BALL/SAY-bull mare-uh-TEE-muh
Common Name: Bull Thatch Palm
Sabal maritima is, so far, a pretty rare species for California, but seems as good a choice as many for a large, specimen fan palm. There are few concrete distinguishing characteristics but it is native to Cuba and Jamaica, which sets it a bit apart from some of the other Sabals. Some include it in a group with Sabal causarium and Sabal domingensis, both very similar species.
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Appearance and Biology
- Habit: solitary with a crown of about 25 costapalmate leaves
- Height: 35' estimate
- Trunk: single; 18" diameter; often covered with retained, split leaf bases
- Crownshaft: none
- Spread: 20'
- Leaf Description: markedly costapalmate; 10' long (half that petiole); pale dull green to medium green; blades split about half their length
- Petiole/Leaf bases: 5'-6' long; sharp but unarmed; channeled; some whitish to silver on underside and bases of petioles; split bases retained for several years on trunks
- Reproduction: monoecious
- Inflorescence: about as long as leaves; from within leaves
- Fruit: spherical to pear shaped; 1/3" in diameter; black when ripe
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 25F estimate
- Drought Tolerance: fair
- Dry Heat Tolerance: good
- Cool Tolerance: fair
- Wind Tolerance: good
- Salt Tolerance: unknown
- Growth Rate: slow
- Soil Preference: adaptable
- Light Requirement: full sun
- Human Hazards: sharp petioles
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: none known yet
- Transplants?: unknown
- Indoor?: unknown
- Availability: very rare
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in garden of Gary Wood, Fallbrook, California
Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Miami, Florida
