NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Sabal minor

Dwarf Palmetto, Blue Stem Palmetto

Scientific Name:	Sabal minor
Genus:	Sabal minor
Species Epithet:	Sabal minor
Common Name:	Dwarf Palmetto, Blue Stem Palmetto
Plant Type	Tree/Shrub
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Arecaceae (Palm Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Size:	3-6 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	White
Light:	Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Moist
Bloom Time:	May, June, July
Growing Area:	Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain
Habitat Description:	Swamps, maritime forests, low moist woods, especially in calcareous soils developed from shell limestone (marl), rarely planted as an ornamental farther inland, where persisting (and appearing native) or possibly naturalizing. Common in NC Coastal Plain, rare as naturalized plant in Piedmont.
Leaf Arrangement:	Basal
Leaf Retention:	Evergreen
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Compound
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Important for Wildlife
Landscape Value:	Recommended and Available
Notes:	This is our northern-most native palm, reaching Currituck Co. Fruits are eaten by robins, raccoons, and many other birds and mammals.
In its habitat Dwarf Palmetto grows in low wet woods, swamp, and maritime forest, especially over calcareous soils. This is our northern-most native palm, reaching Currituck Co. Jack Spruill, Hampstead, May 21, 2009
Close-up of leaves Jack Spruill, May 25, 2009
In bloom The fruit is eaten by small mammals and birds. Jack Spruill, May 26, 2009
Fruit David Paynter, Wilmington, July 19, 2014
Close-up of leaf with insect nest. The leaf segments do not have filamentous margins as does S. palmetto which a young specimen may be confused with. New Hanover County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record