Sabal yapa
 
Common Names Bay Palmetto
 
Zones 9b–11
 
A tall, solitary fan palm native to Belize, Guatemala, western Cuba, and Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, Sabal yapa is valued for its durable fronds used in traditional thatch roofing. It features a smooth gray trunk, deeply split costapalmate leaves, and a saxophone-style root heel. Its tolerance for limestone soils and seasonal drought makes it ideal for tropical restoration and coastal gardens.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Solitary; upright; tillering with exposed heel
Height: 40–65 ft (12–20 m); trunk diameter 12–20 in (30–50 cm)
Trunk: Smooth gray; leaf bases shed early; close ring scars
Leaves: Costapalmate; 15–20 per crown; unevenly split, unevenly drooping segments; same color on both leaf surfaces; up to 6 ft (1.8 m) wide
Inflorescence: Bisexual flowers; borne among leaf crown; branched to 3 orders
Fruit: Black fleshy drupes; edible; ~0.5 in (12 mm) diameter
Ecology: Native to low-lying limestone woodlands and scrub; persists in open areas after forest clearing; associated with Bursera simaruba and Metopium brownei
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun to part shade
Watering: Moderate; drought tolerant but prefers moist, well-drained soil
Soil: Limestone-based calcareous soils; tolerates poor fertility
Temperature: Hardy to ~28°F (–2°C); short light frosts tolerated
Humidity: Tolerant of dry and humid air
Propagation: By seed; slow germination
Tolerance: Drought, limestone soils, seasonal flooding
 
Landscape Use Ideal for tropical restoration, coastal gardens, and traditional landscapes. Fronds used for thatch; fruit has ethnobotanical uses. Pairs well with Coccothrinax argentata, Bursera simaruba, and Thrinax radiata.