Sabal bermudana (Bermuda Palmetto, Bibby-Tree, Blackburn Palmetto, Palm)
Botanical Information
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Genus | Sabal |
| Species | bermudana |
| Synonyms | Sabal blackburnia, Sabal umbraculifera, Sabal princeps |
| Category | Woody |
| Type | Tree (evergreen) |
| Origin | Native to Bermuda although reportedly naturalized in the Leeward Islands. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | Bermudians used to use, for a short period, the leaflets of the palm to weave into hats and export them to the United Kingdom and other countries. Sabal bermudana also has a hole drilled into its trunk and sap extracted to make "bibby", a strong alcoholic local beverage. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 9a - 11 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H3 - H1c |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | (-6.6) to above 4.5 |
| Temperature (°F) | 20 - 40 |
| Height | 9-12 m |
| Spread | 6-9 m |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | A very easy and adaptable palm that will grow in temperate areas just as well as in the tropics and can take some frost and cold. |
| Landscape | Accent, border, and it will perform quite well as a specimen in a small garden. It is also impressive when massed as a tall ground cover. |
| Propagation | Propagate by fresh seed which germinates readily. Transplant seedlings the following year in June or July. |
| Cultivation | Grow in organically rich, evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best performance is in part-shade. |
| Pests | No pests or diseases of major concern. |
| Notable Specimens | Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America. |
| Habitat | This tree is found island-wide in upland and coastal forests and freshwater marsh habitats. |
| Bark/Stem Description | A single stem palm. |
| Leaf Description | A fan palm, with the leaves with a bare petiole terminating in a rounded fan of numerous leaflets, 1.5–2 m long, with 45-60 leaflets up to 75 cm long. |
| Flower Description | Yellowish-white flowers, 5 mm across, produced in large panicles up to 2.5 m long, extending out beyond the leaves. |
| Fruit Description | A deep brown to black drupe about 1 cm long containing a single seed. |
Photographs
Sabal bermudana, form, Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.
Sabal bermudana, lesf, Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.