Cabbage Palm, Sabal Palm (Sabal palmetto)

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NativePlantFan9 Boca Raton, FL(Zone 10a) Dec 11, 2004

Cabbage Palm, Sabal Palm
Sabal palmetto

Natural Cabbage Palm (Sabal Palmetto) hammock on barrier island, southeast FL, USA.

Thumbnail by NativePlantFan9
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TREEHUGR Now in Orlando, FL(Zone 9b) Dec 18, 2004

Still haven't found a spot for a palmetto in my own landscape but these provide shelter for a variety of wildlife and of course the fronds are used to this very day for shelters (roofing). Think tiki hut.

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palmbob Acton, CA(Zone 8b) Dec 22, 2004

If you planted this palm in Southern California and waited for it to grow to the point it would provide shelter for you, you would be very old by that time... very slow plant here in So Cal... unlike in Florida where it's growth rate is 3-10x that here in So Ca.l.

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TREEHUGR Now in Orlando, FL(Zone 9b) Dec 30, 2004

The same can also be said about the invasives. Many of our biggest problems are not problems for you there. And you all have such nice weather too. I wish I could afford to live in California.

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NativePlantFan9 Boca Raton, FL(Zone 10a) Dec 31, 2004

I agree on what you said, TREEHUGR, and similar comments other people said. Many species which are invasive in Florida, even if they are non-native to the U.S., often behave better in California than in Florida. Maybe it is partly because California has different weather patterns and a drier climate, limiting the invasiveness of many plants, although their central and southern climate where many invasive and non-native species in Florida do very well, is very similar to central and southern Florida's, allowing non-native as well as invasive plants in Florida to grow there. Just to help you out, but maybe someone else can give more information.

NativePlantFan9

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TREEHUGR Now in Orlando, FL(Zone 9b) Dec 31, 2004

You know when you think about it, plants have a lot to adapt to here. Extended dry periods, extended wet periods, wind, high temperatures, high humidity, environmental contaminants and did I mention wind? Sometimes I wonder how anything grows here. The plants that come from tropical places seem to be well adapted to the weather in Florida.

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NativePlantFan9 Boca Raton, FL(Zone 10a) Dec 31, 2004

To TREEHUGR,
So are native plants too! They are best adapted to Florida's extremes... usually the only reason why most exotics do well here because people know the right methods to take care of them during dry periods and other rough times... only a few exotic, tropical, non-native plants are actually "adapated" to Florida's extremes. Meanwhile, native plants handle nearly all or all of Florida's extremes.

NativePlantFan9

P.s.: Many exotics suffered during Hurricane Andrew and other storms. Some native plants also suffered, but most did well.

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