Saw Palmetto
Serenoa repens
Also listed as Brahea serrulata, Corypha repens
Also known as Scrub-palmetto
Climate Match for your location
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Saw palmetto is a low-growing, fan-leafed shrub native to the southeastern United States, prized for its tolerance of heat, drought, and poor soil. It produces small creamy-white flowers followed by dark berries and is commonly used in native landscapes and as an ornamental accent.
Why grow it
Saw palmetto outperforms many ornamental shrubs in sandy, infertile soils where alternatives struggle, making it valuable for low-maintenance landscapes in the coastal Southeast. It requires minimal water once established and tolerates salt spray better than comparable fan-leafed species, positioning it as a practical choice where irrigation is limited or soil amendment impractical.
Watch out for
Plants can take several seasons to establish a substantial root system, so consistent moisture during the first year yields better results than assuming drought tolerance applies immediately after planting. Mature plants may spread slowly via rhizomes in ideal conditions, so site them with space to expand if contained growth is desired.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Arecaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Southeastern United States
Native to: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Saw palmetto is a low-growing, fan-leafed shrub native to the southeastern United States, prized for its tolerance of heat, drought, and poor soil. It produces small creamy-white flowers followed by dark berries and is commonly used in native landscapes and as an ornamental accent.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Saw Palmetto grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Saw palmetto outperforms many ornamental shrubs in sandy, infertile soils where alternatives struggle, making it valuable for low-maintenance landscapes in the coastal Southeast. It requires minimal water once established and tolerates salt spray better than comparable fan-leafed species, positioning it as a practical choice where irrigation is limited or soil amendment impractical.
Watch out for
Plants can take several seasons to establish a substantial root system, so consistent moisture during the first year yields better results than assuming drought tolerance applies immediately after planting. Mature plants may spread slowly via rhizomes in ideal conditions, so site them with space to expand if contained growth is desired.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Arecaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Southeastern United States
Native to: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar shrubs you might consider:
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