Saw palmetto trees are a type of palm tree native to the southeastern United States. They are found growing naturally from South Carolina to Florida and west to Mississippi. Saw palmetto trees have distinctive fan-shaped leaves and spiky petioles that give the trunk a “saw-toothed” appearance, thus the name saw palmetto. Identifying saw palmetto trees takes just a bit of knowledge about their key characteristics. Let’s explore how to identify this iconic palm tree of the south.
Where Do Saw Palmettos Grow?
Saw palmetto trees are found growing in coastal areas in the southeastern United States from South Carolina south to Florida and west to Mississippi. They thrive in the warm, humid climate found near the coast and are well-adapted to the sandy soils. Saw palmettos grow best in full sun to partial shade locations.
In South Carolina, saw palmetto trees grow abundantly on the Sea Islands off the coast. The trees sprout up readily in maritime forests, sand dunes, and scrublands. On the mainland, they are common understory trees in pine flatwoods and savannas.
In Florida, saw palmettos proliferate in a variety of coastal habitats including maritime hammocks, coastal prairies and dunes, pine flatwoods, and mangrove swamps. They grow in abundance throughout the Florida peninsula.
The native range extends west along the Gulf Coast to Mississippi. Saw palmettos occur in maritime forests and other coastal habitats with sandy soils. Outside of the southeastern coastal plain, saw palmettos are occasionally found as landscape plantings but they are not native farther inland or northward.
Identifying Features
Saw palmetto trees have a number of distinguishing features that make them easy to recognize:
Trunks: The trunk of a saw palmetto grows low along the ground, rarely exceeding more than 2-3 feet in height. Oftentimes, you’ll just see clusters of leaves sprouting up directly from the ground with no visible trunk. The trunks are covered with old leaf bases that persist after the leaves die, giving them a shaggy, hairy appearance.
Leaves: The leaves are shiny green and fan-shaped, or palmate, similar to other palm trees. They grow in a canopy-like cluster with individual leaves up to 2 feet across. The leaf stems, called petioles, are equipped with sharp, saw-like teeth along the margins. This is the source of the common name “saw palmetto.”
Flowers and Fruit: Small white flowers bloom in spring and develop into black olive-sized fruits by late summer. The fruits are an important food source for wildlife.
Height: Saw palmettos are low growing palms, typically reaching heights of only 6-10 feet at maturity. They spread by rhizomes underground so over time they can form a dense thicket.
Growth Habit: Saw palmettos have a shrub-like growth habit with their multiple fan-shaped leaves sprouting directly from the ground. This gives them a bushy, clustered appearance rather than a single trunked palm.
Differences From Cabbage Palm
Another palm tree that grows in some of the same range as saw palmetto is the cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto). Cabbage palm is Florida’s state tree and also occurs along the Gulf coast.
While both are fan palm species, cabbage palms can be distinguished from saw palmettos in several ways:
- Cabbage palms grow much taller, commonly reaching 60-80 feet in height.
- Cabbage palms have a single, straight, tall trunk that is narrow at the base while saw palmettos have short, ground-level trunks.
- Cabbage palm leaves have smoother, more rounded petioles without saw-like teeth.
- Cabbage palms only grow in trees while saw palmettos often form a dense shrub thicket.
So while both trees have similar looking palm leaves, the overall size, trunk, and growth habit differ significantly between the two species. Looking at the entire structure of the tree will enable identification between the low, clumping saw palmetto and the tall, single-trunked cabbage palm.
Saw Palmetto Lookalikes
There are a couple of plants that mimic the look of saw palmettos. Being aware of these lookalikes aids in proper identification:
Needle palm – The needle palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) is sometimes confused with saw palmetto due to similar looking leaves. However, needle palms only grow naturally in a few coastal counties in Mississippi, Alabama, and northwest Florida. Outside of this narrow range, needle palms are almost always a planted ornamental tree. Needle palms also have a single trunk and regular palm tree silhouette unlike the stubby, shrubby saw palmetto.
Dwarf palmetto – The dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor) occurs in coastal regions from North Carolina to Florida. As its name implies, dwarf palmetto is a short palm growing only 3-6 feet tall. However, its single trunk and smooth leaf petioles distinguish it from the clumping, saw-toothed saw palmetto. Dwarf palmetto is also less cold hardy than saw palmetto.
Bush palmetto – Found only in Cuba, bush palmetto (Sabal anomala) has many similarities to saw palmetto. Both palms have low growing, stemless, shrubby growth habits. However, the bush palmetto is not native to the southeastern U.S. so range confirms an identification of saw palmetto.
Uses for Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto trees have been used by southeastern Native American tribes for food and medicine for centuries. The leaves and fruit provided sustenance while the roots were brewed into medicinal teas. Today, saw palmetto is still prized for its health applications:
Landscaping – Saw palmettos are popular palms for landscapes in the southeast due to their small size and natural shrub-like habit. They are low maintenance, salt tolerant, and provide food and habitat for wildlife.
Food – The fruits are edible fresh or dried, with a flavor similar to dates or plums. Saw palmetto fruit can be used to make jellies, drinks, or desserts. Young heart-of-palm can also be eaten cooked.
Medicinal – Saw palmetto extracts are used to treat urinary and prostate problems in men due to anti-inflammatory properties. It is sold as an herbal supplement.
Wildlife Habitat – The trees provide cover and nesting sites for birds. The leaves are browsed by deer and fruits eaten by wildlife. Honey made from saw palmetto flowers is highly valued.
So identifying saw palmetto trees reveals a unique native plant with many uses past and present. Noticing where saw palmettos grow and their distinctive features makes them easy to recognize.
Conclusion
In summary, identifying saw palmetto trees is straightforward once you understand their key identifying traits:
– Native to the southeastern U.S. coastal plain
– Low growing palm with clusters of fan-shaped leaves sprouting directly from the ground
– Shaggy trunk visible at ground level only
– Leaves have spiky “saw-toothed” petioles
– Forms dense thickets through underground rhizome spreading
Being aware of lookalikes like cabbage palm and needle palm will also help properly distinguish saw palmettos. Noticing where they grow naturally in coastal areas provides a clue, and their low spreading habit is unique from other tall palm trees. Keep an eye out for saw palmettos next time you are hiking or camping near the southeastern shoreline and you will be able to readily identify these iconic palms.
