Dwarf palmetto is a small, evergreen, perennial shrub in the palm family (Arecaceae) native to the Southeast United States from Oklahoma (extreme southern corner) and Texas to North Carolina and south to Florida and Mexico. North Carolina is its northernmost range. It prefers partial shade to full sun and neutral to alkaline, moist to wet soil, and is tolerant of poorly drained soils. It is somewhat drought tolerant once established and has a moderate salt tolerance. It grows very slowly, so buying larger plants will give more instant impact and satisfaction. Dwarf palmetto is hardy to zone 7 with adequate winter protection. Propagate it by seed. Deer seldom damage this plant. Flowers are fragrant and appear in summer. The flowers attract pollinators, and the berries that follow feed birds and small mammals. Dwarf palmetto does well as a specimen, in understory plantings, and provides a tropical look for foundation or patio plantings. Plant it in coastal and naturalized areas, around ponds and other water features. The plant is useful in water, rain and winter gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Additional video for Sabal minor from the Native Plant Picks series from the North Carolina Sea Grant led Coastal Landscapes Initiative .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Palmasect
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate fan-shaped simple deeply divided lobed suborbicular palmate leaf 1 to 5 feet tall and wide. The leaves remain attractive in the winter. Petioles are smooth (unarmed) and long.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
Creamy white flowere are small but numerous. They are borne on erect, compound panicles up to 6' long
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Round <.5 inch fleshy shiny drupe with one seed. Green maturing to purple/black. Displays from August to November
Bark detail
The trunk of this plant is partially subterranean.
Stem detail
Stem is underground
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
S. Oklahoma to SE. U.S.A., Mexico
Wildlife value
Fruits are eaten by robins, raccoons, and many other birds and mammals.