Sabal maritima - Jamaican Palmetto
Sabal maritima - Jamaican Palmetto
Sabal maritima
Bull Thatch, Jamaican Palmetto
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Available in 2 sizes
Available in 6 sizes
This plant carries a 24 months recovery warranty
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We guarantee the quality of our plants for a full growing cycle, and will replace at our expense any plant that fails to recover under normal climatic and planting conditions.
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Description
The Jamaican Palmetto is a large palm tree native to Cuba and Jamaica, appreciated in tropical climates for its robustness, fairly rapid growth, and ease of cultivation. Similar to Sabal causarium and S. domingensis, it differs in having a more slender trunk or stipe, shorter upright inflorescences, petioles covered with light scales, and a more brightly coloured crown of fronds. In its native lands, it easily invades old fields and fallows, on rocky, sandy, and limestone soils. It develops a straight, fairly thin, whitish false trunk, topped by a very beautiful crown of intensely green, slightly trailing fronds. It is a very beautiful tropical palm tree that can only be grown in the ground in hot and sunny coastal areas, protected from severe frosts.
The Jamaican Palmetto belongs to the family of Arecaceae. It can reach a height of 18m (59ft) in nature, probably no more than 10 to 12m (33 to 39ft) in most European gardens. This species shows moderately rapid growth, adapts to any type of loose, well-drained, and deep soil, even saline, and can tolerate brief frosts of around -5 to -6°C once mature.
When young, the Maritime Sabal forms a bushy clump, and after 10 to 12 years, it develops a single false trunk (stipe), cylindrical, straight, slender, 25 to 35cm (10 to 14in) in diameter, whitish-grey in colour and smooth. The foliage is arranged in a terminal crown at the top of the stipe, and can eventually span 4m (13ft). The crown is composed of 25 costapalmate leaves, which means palmate leaves arranged in a fan shape around a central axis. In the Jamaican Palmetto, the leaf petiole can measure up to 1.8m (6ft) long and is covered with tiny light brown, deciduous scales. Each leaf, averaging 2m (7ft) in width, displays a very bright green colour. It is divided into 70 to 100 rigid segments that can measure up to 1.3m (4ft) long, with a slight cleft at the tip. Filaments are present on the axis of the segments. The flowering, which occurs on mature individuals, consists of ascending, branched inflorescences between the leaves, with cream-white bisexual flowers, slightly fragrant, of the same length as the leaves. The fruit is spherical or pear-shaped, measuring up to 1.4cm (1in) in diameter and turns black when ripe.
The Jamaican Palmetto is a magnificent specimen to plant as a standalone in seaside gardens, or in rows, especially in warm climates that are not too dry. Its hardiness will likely depend on soil drainage, duration of frosts, and ambient humidity. Plant this magnificent species near an entrance, or on either side of a gate; planted alone near a swimming pool, it will be superb and will surprise your visitors. It can be grown in a large container for several years. The plant should be stored in a tropical-type greenhouse (heated and slightly humid) during winter.
Sabal maritima - Jamaican Palmetto in pictures
Plant habit
Flowering
Foliage
Botanical data
Sabal
maritima
Arecaceae
Bull Thatch, Jamaican Palmetto
Central America
Planting and care
This palm tree shows moderately fast growth, slower during its first 8 or 10 years, and requires sunshine and warmth that will promote a faster growth rate. Plant Sabal maritima in the ground in warm climates that are not too dry, where frost does not exceed -5°C (23°F) for a short period. Plant it in well-drained, light, deep and fertile soil, even limestone, sandy or saline. The soil should remain slightly moist, water regularly in summer during the first years. Choose the warmest and sunniest spot in the garden. Place it in a very sunny location and protected from cold and dry winds. It requires little maintenance except for pruning the oldest palmate leaves close to the stem.
Planting period
Intended location
Care
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
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In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.