Serenoa repens
 
Common Names Saw Palmetto, Scrub Palmetto, Silver Palmetto (for cinerea form)
 
Zones 8a–11
 
A clumping, fan-leaved palm native to the southeastern U.S., Serenoa repens is a keystone species in coastal dunes, pine flatwoods, and scrub habitats. Its creeping stems, stiff palmate leaves, and fragrant flowers make it a resilient and ecologically vital plant. Highly tolerant of drought, salt, and fire, it forms dense thickets that support wildlife and stabilize soils.
 
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; green to silvery-blue depending on form and habitat; 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 plains from South Carolina to Louisiana and throughout Florida; fire-adapted and clonal; supports Florida scrub jay, black bear, and sand skink2
 
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.