cabbage palmetto

Also known as Cabbage Palm, Sabal Palm, Carolina Palmetto, Swamp Cabbage

Cabbage palmettos anchor coastal ecosystems with fan-shaped fronds that radiate from stout, fibrous trunks capable of surviving tropical storms and severe fires. Dense clusters of small white blooms emerge in early summer, yielding abundant dark berries that feed migrating songbirds, black bears, and raccoons. These iconic palms often retain crisscrossed leaf bases called boots along their stems, creating microhabitats for epiphytic ferns and small wildlife.