VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Sabal palmetto | Cabbage Palmetto 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Cabbage palmetto wood is sea-worm resistant, splinter resistant, and
unusual looking (no growth rings).  It is used for warf pilings, poles,
broom handles, and ornamental table tops [19,21].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Black bears, raccoons, bats, northern bobwhites, wild turkeys,
ring-necked gulls, cardinals, great-tailed grackles, blue jays, and
scrub jays all eat cabbage palmetto fruit [19,23].  White-tailed deer
also eat the fruit, but cabbage palmetto foliage is not browsed [13].


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Cabbage palmetto is the most wind-resistant tree in southern Florida and
is relatively resistant to damaging insects and other pathogens [19].
It tolerates salt spray and brackish water [23].  These attributes make
cabbage palmetto potentially useful for disturbed site rehabilitation.

Propagation of cabbage palmetto in the nursery requires the collection
of ripe fruits.  Seeds can be separated with a macerator or by rubbing
the fruit on hardware cloth.  Seeds require no pretreatment to break
dormancy, but stratification in moist sand for 30 days at 38 degrees F
(3 deg C) speeds germination.  Seeds should be planted 0.5 to 1 inch
(1.5-3 cm) deep in light soil and should not be allowed to dry out.
There are about 1,650 dried seeds per pound (3,630/kg) [13].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
The terminal bud of cabbage palmetto is edible and tastes somewhat like
cabbage (Brassica spp.)--hence the name.  Removal of the bud kills the
tree.  Cabbage palmetto leaves are used to make canes, scrub brushes,
thatch, and baskets.  Bees use its pollen.  Cabbage palmetto is a
popular ornamental [19,23].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
The extensive use of cabbage palmetto for urban landscaping is depleting
natural stocks.  Cabbage palmetto management is clearly needed, though
untried.  Wade and Langdon [19] suggest that cabbage palmetto
silviculture should be fairly simple.  Even and uneven-aged management
of mixed or pure stands are appropriate.  Site drainage and aerial
applications of 2-4-D will damage cabbage palmetto stands [19].

Related categories for Species: Sabal palmetto | Cabbage Palmetto