yardremake
A mature Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) growing in a residential garden bed

In the landscape

Barrier · Border · Flowering tree · Mass planting · Small tree · Street tree · Coastal · Naturalized

Data sources

NC State Extension

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

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