
In the landscape
Barrier · Border · Flowering tree · Mass planting · Small tree · Street tree · Coastal · Naturalized
Data sources
Saw Palmetto
Serenoa repens · Palm
Saw Palmetto is a slow-growing palm, hardy in USDA zones 8-11, that matures to about 4–8 ft. It does best in full sun and part shade with low water needs in well-drained, occasionally-dry and very-dry soil. Expect cream and white blooms in spring and summer. It attracts bees, butterflies and moths, stands up well to drought and dry soil and fire.
- USDA zones
- 8-11
- Sun
- Full sun, Part shade
- Water
- Low
- Mature size
- 4–8 ft
- Spacing
- 6–12 ft
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Well-drained, Occasionally-dry, Very-dry
- Foliage
- Silver, Green
- Bloom color
- Cream, White
- Bloom season
- Spring, Summer
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Moths, Pollinators, Small mammals, Songbirds
- Tough against
- Drought, Dry soil, Fire, Heat, Humidity, Poor soil, Salt, Wind
- Native to
- SE USA
Will it survive your winters?
We score Saw Palmetto’s freeze-trouble range against the real coldest nights your area has recorded.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
More plants for your zone: Zone 8 · Zone 9 · Zone 10 · Zone 11
See the Saw Palmetto in your own yard
Upload a photo and our AI designs with real plants like this one — matched to your USDA zone.