Serenoa repens ‘Cinerea’
 
Common Names Silver Saw Palmetto, Silver Serenoa, Cinerea Form
 
Zones 8a–11
 
A striking silver-leaf form of the native saw palmetto, Serenoa repens ‘Cinerea’ is prized for its drought tolerance, wildlife value, and shimmering foliage. Found naturally along Florida’s east coast, this cultivar features fan-shaped leaves with a silvery-blue cast, adding contrast and texture to native plantings and coastal gardens. Like the green form, it spreads slowly by creeping rhizomes and forms dense, fire-adapted thickets.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Clumping; multi-trunked; creeping stems often subterranean
Height: 4–8 ft (1.2–2.4 m); occasionally up to 15 ft (4.5 m) in dense habitats
Trunk: Horizontal or ascending; covered in persistent leaf bases; rarely upright
Leaves: Palmate; 18–30 stiff segments per leaf; silvery-blue to silver-white above and below; up to 3 ft (90 cm) wide; petioles armed with fine teeth
Inflorescence: Fragrant creamy-white flowers; branched to 2–3 orders; attracts bees and butterflies
Fruit: Black drupes; ~0.5 in (12 mm) diameter; ripen August–October; important wildlife food
Ecology: Native to coastal dunes, pine flatwoods, and scrub habitats; fire-adapted and clonal
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun to part shade
Watering: Low; drought tolerant once established
Soil: Sandy, well-drained; tolerates poor fertility and salt
Temperature: Hardy to ~10°F (–12°C); leaf damage below 5°F (–15°C)
Humidity: Tolerant of dry and humid air
Propagation: By seed or division; slow-growing
Tolerance: Drought, salt, fire, poor soils, flooding
 
Landscape Use Ideal for coastal gardens, native plantings, and firewise landscapes. Provides evergreen structure, erosion control, and wildlife habitat. Pairs well with Sabal minor, Ilex glabra, and Muhlenbergia capillaris.