Palms For California

Pronunciation: suh-BALL/SAY-bull mex-ih-CAN-uh

Common Name: Texas Palmetto; Oaxacan Palmetto

Sabal mexicana is a moderately common species in California and Texas that is a fairly 'typical' looking Sabal palm with a large head of costapalmate leaves and a typical trunk. It is a bit less immense than the largest species of this genus, but a very reliable grower in many areas of California and a worthy landscape specimen. For some reason, this is one of the more commonly grown Sabals in the tropics.

Synonym: Sabal texana; Sabal guatamalensis

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of 15-25 costapalmate leaves Height: 40' Trunk: single; 12" thick; grey and very closely, subtly ringed Crownshaft: none Spread: 14' Leaf Description: markedly costapalmate; 6'-7' long; medium green to bluish green; leaflets have some droop to them; leaves divided 1/2 to 2/3 length; sometimes with a short skirt of dead leaves below crown Petiole/Leaf bases: 3'-4' long; unarmed; channeled; light green Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: 3' long; within leaves; pale yellow flowers Fruit: ovoid; 1/2-3/4"" long; dark brown when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 18F Drought Tolerance: good Dry Heat Tolerance: good Cool Tolerance: good Wind Tolerance: good Salt Tolerance: unknown Growth Rate: slow to moderate Soil Preference: adaptable Light Requirement: partial to full sun Human Hazards: moderately sharp petioles Disease or Horticultural Problems: mild nutritional problems in some California soils Transplants?: unknown Indoor?: unknown Availability: rare

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  Huntington Gardens near Pasadena, California

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  Huntington gardens

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  University of California Berkeley gardens palm

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  Hawaii

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  Ho'Olamuhia gardens, Oahu, Hawaii

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  Singapore Botanical gardens

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  UC Berkeley gardens

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  trunk in Huntington Gardens

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  fruits in Huntington Gardens

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  ripening fruit