Serenoa spp.

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 8–11

Overview

Serenoa spp. is a genus in the palm family containing a single species, saw palmetto (Serenoa repens). It is a low, clump-forming fan palm whose stems usually creep along or just below the ground, occasionally becoming erect to 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) on old plants. Mature clumps spread 4-10 feet (1.2-3 m) wide and form dense colonies. Leaves are palmate, 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) across, divided into 18-30 stiff segments and carried on petioles 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) long armed with sharp teeth along the margins. Foliage ranges from green to silvery blue-green depending on population. Small creamy-white flowers are borne in branched clusters 2-24 inches (5-60 cm) long in spring, followed by oval drupes 0.5-1 inch (1.3-2.5 cm) long that ripen from green through yellow-orange to blue-black. Plants grow slowly, and individual clones can persist for centuries. The toothed leaf stalks make passage through dense stands difficult, and large clumps re-establish slowly after disturbance. Saw palmetto tolerates fire, salt spray, and drought once established.

Native Range

Saw palmetto is native to the southeastern United States, from South Carolina south through Florida and west along the Gulf Coast to Texas. It grows in pine flatwoods, coastal dunes, scrub, and the understory of oak and pine woodlands, usually on sandy, well-drained soils near sea level.

Suggested Uses

Used in native and coastal landscapes, restoration plantings, and erosion control on sandy soils, spaced 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) apart. The spreading, colony-forming habit and toothed petioles leave it unsuited to small or high-traffic spaces. Fruit is harvested commercially for herbal extracts.

How to Identify

Identified by fan-shaped leaves 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) across divided into 18-30 stiff segments, carried on petioles armed with sharp marginal teeth that separate it from the unarmed cabbage palmetto (Sabal palmetto). Stems typically creep along the ground, forming colonies rather than tall trunks. Ripe fruit is a blue-black oval drupe 0.5-1 inch (1.3-2.5 cm) long.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 10'

Width/Spread4' - 10'

Reaches mature size in approximately 10 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~5 weeks

Spring

Flowering occurs in spring, mainly March through June depending on latitude. Branched clusters carry many small creamy-white blooms over three to five weeks. Fruit ripens from late summer into fall. Flowering and fruiting are heavier in years following fire.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green to silvery blue-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

clumps establish over 5-10 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade on sandy, well-drained soils and tolerates poor, infertile sites. Established plants withstand drought, salt spray, and brief flooding, though growth is slow in all conditions. Hardy in USDA zones 8-11, tolerating brief cold to about 10°F (-12°C). Transplanting is difficult because of a deep, woody stem base, and large clumps re-establish slowly. Few pests trouble the species. Fire top-kills the foliage but plants resprout from protected stems.

Pruning

Pruning is limited to removing dead or damaged fronds at the base, and the sharp-toothed petioles make this work slow. Plants tolerate cutting back of foliage and resprout from the stem. Spent fruit stalks can be removed after the fruit drops.