Saw Palmetto Plant Varieties & Facts

Physical Description

• Saw palmettos are short, sturdy palm trees that resemble bushes more than trees. The average height of a mature saw palmetto is 5 to 10 feet, while the base is 4 to 10 feet. Saw palmetto trunks tend to grow horizontally rather than straight up, making this plant effective as a groundcover plant. Some saw palmettos feature blue leaves, but the majority of specimens have green leaves; the tree's leaves are fan-shaped. In April and May, saw palmettos produce white or cream-colored flowers; the plant's flowers grow on stalks and have a fragrant smell.

Fruit

• The fruit of saw palmettos is initially yellow, but turns black when it ripens. Saw palmetto fruit usually ripens during August to October. While not edible for human consumption, saw palmetto fruit attracts mammals and birds as food. The history of using saw palmetto fruits for medicinal purposes dates back to the early 20th century. During this period, Native Americans used palmetto fruit extract for curing urinary tract problems. Saw palmetto fruit extract is also thought to increase sexual libido in males. According the University of Maryland Medical Center, current uses for saw palmetto extract alleviates prostatic hyperplasia, an enlargement of the prostate gland.

Native Environments

• Saw palmettos are native to sub-tropical climates of the Southeastern United States; the tree's range stretches from the Carolinas to Louisiana. In its native environment, saw palmettos primarily grow in coastal dunes, but they are also see in wetlands, pine forests and grasslands. Saw palmettos tolerate sub-tropical climates in the United States Department of Agriculture's Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. This means gardeners in Texas, the American Southwest and Southern California are able to grow saw palmettos in their landscapes.

Landscapes

• When growing saw palmettos, gardeners plant these plants in areas where they receive partial sunlight. Saw palmettos prosper if planted underneath trees, but can survive on their own, as well. These plants have a high drought tolerance, but only survive if planted in climates with occasional or consistent rainfall. Ornamentation is the primary reason for planting saw palmettos, as they are not tall enough to provide shade for other plants. To avoid a saw palmetto's prickly leaves, place plants away from driveways or sidewalks.

Varieties

• According to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, some authorities recognize the silver palmetto -- Serenoa sericea -- as a separate species from the saw palmetto. Silver palmettos differ from saw palmettos with their silver-colored leaves. These trees are approximately 5 to 10 feet tall and have high drought tolerances. Florida and Hawaii have the appropriate climates for silver palmetto growth.