This fan palm has an underground stem when young and forms a dense spreading clustering habit. It has bluish-green waxy rounded fronds with stiff lanced-shape segments and the small white cup-shaped flowers appear in a cluster from spring to summer.

Hardiness zones 7 to 11

Serenoa repensis naturally found in North America from south-eastern Louisiana to southern Mississippi, Alabama and coastal Florida growing in woodlands or on sand dunes.

It forms a large clump that is up to 5m (15ft) wide and when mature it has shaggy rough trunks that are covered in leaf bases and fibres. They grow upright or arching and are up to 6m (20ft) long forming a dense fibrous root system.

It tolerates a semi shaded to full sun position and grows in most well drained acidic to alkaline soils tolerateing periods of drought and low intensity fires and light frost tolerant and flourishes in a swampy position.

Saw Palmetto is grown for its clumping habit and its silvery green foliage. It is planted in shrub borders or used as an understorey in a tropical garden. It is suitable for front line coastal positions establishing in 3 to 5 years and can be planted around a water feature as an untidy specimen. It is not recommended for small domestic gardens and is difficult to transplant or remove.ID 3004

Note:
This palm is monoecious and the genus is monotypic.

Serenoa(ser-e-NO-ah) repens(REE-penz)

Arecaceae(ar-ek-AY-see-ee)     
(Palmae)
Palm Family