Twenty five years ago, my late wife Michelle and I, headed to Bermuda for a botanizing excursion….I mean, vacation. One of the collections I returned home with (legally declared) was a few seed of their native palm, Sabal bermudiana. I didn’t really have high hopes that it would be winter hardy here, but wanted to check it off my, “been there, killed that” list. After three years in a container, my sole germinated seedling went in the ground. Now, after 22 winters in the ground, including three which recorded low temperatures below 10 degrees F, with a low of 7F (-14 C), it still thrives, without any protection. Any temperatures below 15 degrees F completely fry the foliage, but in spring, it continues to resprout, and by fall looks rather decent. It’s now topped 8′ tall with a 1′ tall trunk, which would be laughable in its native haunts. but thrills us here in Zone 7b/8a.
Great story.
Beautiful palm, congratulations.
I see Sabal bermudiana and instantly the Beach Boys song “Kokomo” starts playing in my head, “Aruba, Jamaica, ooh, I wanna take ya, Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama.” Thanks for the earworm Tony!
But 3 yrs from seed to plantable plant is asking a lot from a grower. What are the slowest and fastest Sabal sp. as far as seed to plantable size specimen? I saw one report recently of a Sabal sp. that required 8 yrs from seed to plantable plant.
That said, are there any plans to offer Sabal bermudiana again at Plant Delights?
Thanks
Of the Zone 7b/8a hardy sabals, the fastest growers are Sabal ‘Defuniak’, Sabal minor var. louisiana, and Sabal sp. ‘Tamaulipas’.