Deer Resistant
Drought Tolerant
Cold Hardy
| Hardy Zone: | 8-11 |
| Cold Hardy: | Yes, down to 15° and subzero for a short duration |
| Mature Height: | 50-70' |
| Spread: | 16-20' |
| Shape: | Tree |
| Growth Rate: | Slow, approximately 2' a year |
| Sun Preference: | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| Maintenance: | Easy |
| Water Needs: | Average |
| Soil Preference: | Well Drained |
| Drought Tolerant: | Yes |
| Deer Resistant: | Yes |
Tall, Stately, Cold-Hardy Palm Tree native to Georgia that withstands temperatures into the mid-teens, tolerates drought, wind and thrives with nominal care.
Why Choose a Sabal Palmetto Palm Tree?
Sabal Palmettos are native to Florida, Georgia, and coastal regions of the Carolinas, meaning the palm is hardy and thrives in the conditions these areas offer. It’s also cold-hardy and withstands freezing temperatures, unlike many species of palms. If you’re recreating a tropical paradise in your own yard you won’t be disappointed with the addition of this hardy and attractive Sabal Palm.
These mature into large evergreen trees, growing anywhere from 50 to 70 feet tall and sometimes taller. Their thick canopy filled with green fan-shaped fronds can spread 16 to 20 feet. Each green to yellowish-green frond grows about 12 feet long. The rough, single-gray trunk develops vertical lines as it matures, adding additional interest and texture to the palm
In mid-summer, long panicles form filled with fragrant white flowers. The spent flowers develop into small blackberries that are a tasty treat to birds and various wildlife. This makes the palm a great addition to wildlife, pollinator, or native gardens.
Sabal Palmettos also goes by the common name Cabbage Palm. It earns this name from the edible portion of the palm’s heart being cooked and better known as swamp cabbage.
The Sabal Palm works well used as a landscape specimen, accent tree, or planted in groups. It also makes an attractive addition to pool areas.
Is it Cold-Hardy in My Area?
Look no further than the cold-tolerant Sabal Palmetto if you desire to create your own tropical paradise in your own yard. The palm stands up to freezing winter temperatures without skipping a beat and is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11. It tolerates winter lows down to 15°F.
However, if you’re expecting extreme winter lows you can do a few things to protect the palm. Deeply watering and layering the planting site with organic mulch the day before the cold weather conditions arrive helps insulate the root system and keep it warm.
While the Sabal Palmetto is small you can also cover the canopy in holiday lights or cover the tree with sheets or burlap. This also helps keep the tree warm and the addition of lights bring a cheery appeal to your yard at night.
How Big Does It Get?
Sabal Palmetto Palm Trees eventually mature into a tall tree, putting on about 2 feet of new growth yearly. They can mature to a height of around 50 to 70 feet tall with a spread of around 16 to 20 feet.
Due to their eventual large size, you won’t want to plant it under powerlines or in an area where their size can cause interference.
How Much Sun Does It Require?
The palm tolerates a wide range of light conditions from full sun to partial shade.
What About Soil and Water?
Sabal Palmettos thrive in a range of soils that drain well. The palm thrives in everything from sandy to loamy soils provided they have good drainage.
The palm has a high tolerance to drought once established. You should irrigate newly planted trees several times weekly for the first few months after planting. Once established, you can cut back water to every week or two, depending on your local conditions.
Is It Easy to Maintain?
If you’re looking for a tree that won’t end up being the diva of the landscape, then look no further than the Sabal Palmetto. This tough and durable tree doesn’t require much when it comes to maintenance to thrive and look great.
The palm is usually self-cleaning, meaning it will drop the fronds as they turn brown and completely die. If you do have to prune off dead fronds, wait until they are completely brown and die before trimming them from the tree. Even those that are slightly green are providing additional nutrients to the palm.
What About Fertilizing?
Like many palms, Sabal Palmettos should be fertilized three times yearly. Apply the first feeding in early spring, the second in late spring or early summer, and the final feeding in late summer or sometime in September.
Use a slow-release, 8-2-12-4 blend specific to palm trees. Use the amount specified on the package and spread evenly under the canopy. After applying, water the fertilizer into the soil.
Q: Do you deliver?
A: Yes, we deliver within a 30 mile radius of our Alpharetta, GA location. Click here to check your zip code. The cost for delivery is $95. For potential delivery beyond 30 miles, please call us at 770-400-9897.
Q: Do you install?
A: Yes, all the plants we sell can be installed by us. Installation cost varies by product. Once you place your products in the cart, it will display delivery and installation costs. We only install AtlantaPalms.com palm trees and plants. Installation requires delivery by us.
Q: Do you offer a warranty?
A: Yes, we guarantee that your palm tree will arrive in perfect condition. If you're not satisfied within the first five (5) days of receiving your trees and plants, give us a call at 770-400-9897 so that we can make things right.
If you have issues with your trees or plants within the first 30 days, give us a call. We will review your concerns and provide you with a one-time replacement if necessary. Replacement delivery and installation costs are at the customer’s expense.
Please note, palm trees need proper care. If you have provided less than optimal care, your purchase isn't covered by our guarantee.
Q: Do you accept returns?
A: Only palms and plants 15 Gallon or less can be returned. The plant must be returned within 2 days of pickup or delivery and must be in the original container. Once a tree has been removed from its original container, or has been planted, it cannot be returned. Delivery fees are non-refundable.
Q: What payment methods do you accept?
A: We accept all major credit cards and cash.
Q: What are your hours of operation?
A: Monday - Friday: 8:30-5:00 / Saturday: 9:00-2:00
Q: How often should I water my palms?
A: In general, palms should be watered daily with 4 to 5 gallons of water for the first two weeks until the root system is established. Ensure that the soil is wet and not soggy. Too much water may cause permanent damage. Depending on the type of palm and time of year, watering may be decreased to twice a month or less once the tree is established. Make sure you water the trees from the bottom up. Watering from the top down can cause rotting. Soil that has good drainage is important to help prevent over saturation and adding sand to the soil mixture can help with drainage. Placing mulch around the base of the tree and not against the trunk can also help with retaining water.
For cold hardy palms, watering will vary depending on the time of year and the temperature. Here is a guideline for how much to water in any given season.
Winter (60 degrees of less) no need to water, except for the first 30 days after installation. (5 gallons or till mote is full)
Spring (75 degrees or less) water palm once a week. (5 gallons or till mote is full)
Beginning of summer (90 degrees or less) 2-3 times a week
Heat of summer (90 degrees and above) 4-5 times a week
Q: When do I apply fertilizer to my palm tree?
A: Newly planted palms should not be fertilized until they put out a new spear. For palms planted from the Georgia/Tennessee border down to Atlanta, apply fertilizer in three applications. In heavy clay soils use half the recommended amount of fertilizer, and do not apply granular fertilizers after August 1. Be sure to fertilize only during the growing season (between April 1 and August 1).
Q: It is a good idea to correctly support larger, newly planted palms?
A: Larger palms will require some form of bracing to maintain stability during the first six to eight months after installation. Three equidistantly-spaced braces are used to support the palm. If Atlanta Palms installs your palm tree, we handle the bracing.
Q: When should I prune my palm tree?
A: The only time you should prune your palm tree is when the fronds are discolored, broken or pointing to the ground at more than a 90 degree angle. Palms get most of their energy from their fronds, so it’s important to be careful not to remove too many.
Q: Why are drip irrigation systems preferable to sprinklers?
A: Both drip irrigation and sprinklers are good irrigation systems for your palm trees. Drip irrigation is designed to have deeper saturation into a specific area. Sprinklers (spray irrigation) will only saturate the top 3-5 inches per watering cycle whereas Palms root balls are 2-3 feet deep and require a deeper water saturation to develop new roots. Newly planted palms can suffer root loss with a lapse in deep water saturation especially during the hotter and drier summer months.
Customer Reviews
Love it!
The second crew did an amazing job installing our palms
United StatesLove the new palms
Beautiful selection of trees, excellent customer service! I would definitely recommend Atlanta Palms to anyone looking for a palm tree!
United StatesGet your palm from ATLANTA PALMS!
Reasonably priced, great communication, nice folk, quick easy delivery and installation. These guys are in it to win it. And they won me. We WILL COME BACK!
United States4 Beautiful Sabal Palms
Ricky and his team are just fantastic to work with. He was proactive in making sure we were getting the right trees and sizes for the spot, and did a great job of providing adequate knowledge transfer to keep the trees looking great. Plus the trees are beautiful and make the pool look great!
United StatesSabal singles & doubles
I have purchased numerous palms from Ricky, and I must say that the trees and service I have received, could not have been more pleasant and helpful with top quality trees & installation equipment. To this end I would recommend any interested parties to contact Atlanta Palms for their requirements. Excellent and rewarding experience. Thank you.
Owner Ricky was gracious and extremely helpful.
Owner Ricky was gracious and extremely helpful. He instructed us on exactly how to plant and care for our palm tree and threw in a bag of sand. We will return!
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