Plant · GBIF taxon 2735055
Saw Palmetto
Serenoa repensAlso known as Scrub Palmetto, Silver Saw Palmetto
Saw palmettos form dense, sprawling understory thickets across the pine flatwoods and coastal dunes of the southeastern United States. Their fan-shaped leaves feature sharply saw-toothed stems that can easily slice through clothing and skin. These slow-growing palms play a vital ecological role, providing critical nesting cover for wildlife and producing abundant dark berries that feed a wide array of forest animals.
EvergreenCoastalSlow-Growing
1 / 7—observations
—countries
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight, water, and nutrient-poor, sandy soils
Predators
- Feral hogs
- White-tailed deer
- Black bears
ThreatsHabitat loss from coastal development, fire suppression, and illegal berry harvesting
HabitatsPine flatwoods, coastal dunes, sandhills, and maritime forests
Life span500 to 1,000 years for clonal colonies
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyArecaceae
- SpeciesSerenoa repens
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Sharp leaf stems can cut skin, and wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Watch the stems: Avoid grabbing the leaf petioles bare-handed, as the sharp teeth easily slice skin.
- Observe wildlife: Watch thickets quietly to spot nesting birds, gopher tortoises, or foraging mammals.
- Identify by growth: Look for the prostrate, creeping trunks that hug the ground rather than growing upright.
Frequent Companion (c) Ashwin Srinivasan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ashwin Srinivasan · cc-by
Co-occurring Relative (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Farren Dell Rossman, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Farren Dell Rossman · cc-by
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