When I first thought about Southern trees, I knew little about the difference between a palmetto and a palm tree. I have Googled this question before, but I am still seeking a definitive answer. Recently, I reached out to Urban Forester Danny Burbage, a maintenance specialist in the City of Charleston, South Carolina, to clarify things. He gave me a clear answer that helped. Palmettos are just one of many varieties of palms, specifically from the Sabal genus. The Sabal palmetto is the most common type found in the Southeast, but there are others like Sabal minor, the Pindo, Saw, and Needle palms.
I found it interesting that seeing a skinny trunk on a palmetto usually means it had a rough growing season. According to Danny, this can happen during a bad period caused by drought, excessive rain, or other stress. This fragile appearance is often misleading since these trees are still resilient over time.
The Arecaceae (palmae) family, to which both palms and palmettos belong, includes many types and genera. Palmetto trees are generally smaller compared to other palms. While a Sabal palmetto can grow up to 30 feet, other palms, like the Phoenix (also known as the Canary Island Date Palm) or Washingtonia robusta (the Mexican Fan Palm), can tower as high as 80 feet. There are dozens of palm species, each with similar growing requirements. However, their appearances and growth habits can vary widely.
Exploring the native species around North Carolina and South Carolina has taught me to appreciate the diversity within the Sabal genus. The massive trunks of Sabal blackburniana, which can reach 80 feet, stand out with their broad fronds that span up to 9 feet. It’s fascinating how particular palms, like the Phoenix or Washingtonia, can thrive under the same conditions as the much smaller palmetto. This versatility in growing conditions makes palms an essential part of the landscape from the Southeastern U.S. to South America.
If you look at these trees from a distance, you might think they all look similar, but up close, you can see their unique differences. From the Sabal palmetto with its curved fronds to the towering height of the Canary Islands Date Palm, each has its own story to tell in the broader palm family.
Difference Between Palm and Palmetto Trees
When comparing palmettos and palm trees, the differences are pretty significant. A palm tree is generally much more giant than a palmetto, with some species, like the Royal Palm, reaching 80 to 100 feet. In contrast, palmettos typically grow to around 30 to 60 feet. For example, the Sabal palmetto is one of the taller varieties. However, it is still much shorter than the towering palms that dominate tropical landscapes. Both trees have unique growth patterns; while palm trees tend to grow their trunks vertically, palmettos often have a stem that grows horizontally close to the ground.
Palm trees are known for their wide range of fan-shaped or feather-shaped fronds. These fronds can vary greatly depending on the species, from the palmate fronds of palms to the pinnate types. The Sabal palmetto, for instance, has a costapalmate leaf, which means it arches backward in a graceful curve. Each leaf is around 3 feet long and has many narrow leaflets, creating that iconic palm look.
There are also differences in the fruits these trees produce. Palms, like the Maypan and Green Malayan, grow much more significant, heavier fruits like coconuts. These fruits can be quite large and even dangerous when they fall from high up in the tree. Other palms, like the Queen Palm, grow ornamental orange dates. On the other hand, palmettos produce much smaller fruits, often resembling berries, which are much less noticeable and lighter.
Having spent time around palm and palmetto trees, it’s clear that while they share some similarities, their size, shape, and fruit differences make them distinct.
Palmetto and Palm Tree Sizes
When comparing palmettos and palms, the difference in size is one of the most prominent factors. Palm trees can reach impressive heights, with some, like the Royal Palm (Roystonea), growing up to 80 feet tall. In contrast, the largest palmetto, such as the Sabal or cabbage palm, generally maxes out around 30 feet. Both trees are monocots, meaning they grow differently than oaks, pines, and other woody trees. Palms don’t produce their trunks or stems in layers; they lack the typical rough bark you’d find on different trees.
Palms grow their stems underground during their early years, remaining short before eventually sending them upward. When they do, they can gain as much as a foot in height each year. On the other hand, palmettos often grow more slowly and stay smaller in size. Some species, like the pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebelenii, zones 10-11), grow only about 12 feet tall. In contrast, others, like the Sabal palmetto (zones 7b-11), are more moderate in height.
Palmettos also vary in size depending on the species. The dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor, zones 7-10) stays low to the ground, reaching about 2-7 feet, while the saw palmetto (Serenoa repens, zones 8-11) grows around 5-10 feet. Some, like the scrub palmetto (Sabal etonia), are even smaller, barely reaching 4 feet at maturity. These differences make palmettos more suitable for smaller spaces than towering palms.
Despite their smaller size, palmettos can still grow upright and vertically, depending on the species. They sometimes grow horizontally along the ground, especially in their early stages, which gives them a different appearance from their taller palm relatives.
Palm and Palmetto Foliage
When looking at the foliage of palms and palmettos, one of the first things you notice is their large fronds. Palm trees have leaves that grow in an alternate or spiral pattern, with parallel veins running through them. Depending on the species, these leaves can range from 18 to 36 inches in length. In contrast, palmettos tend to have thick, flattened leaves that form a star shape. Some species, like the saw palmetto, feature lancelike, stiff leaves with small serrations, giving them their common name.
While palm fronds vary in length, palmetto leaves can exceed this size, often growing over 36 inches. The star-shaped pattern of palmetto leaves makes them unique in appearance, especially when compared to the more typical palm tree fronds.
Flowers on Palms and Palmettos
The flowers on palms and palmettos offer a variety of sights and scents. Some palms, like the desert, royal, and queen palms, are known for their showy white flowers. These flowers can be highly aromatic, with shades of yellow, cream, or gray. In contrast, the scrub palmetto produces small, uninteresting flowers, while the saw palmetto proudly displays its fragrant yellowish flowers on stalks that can grow up to 3 feet long.
The dwarf palmetto takes a more demure approach, with its flowers extending just beyond the tips of its foliage. Though less noticeable, these flowers still have a gentle, fragrant quality that adds to the plant’s overall charm.
Palmetto and Palm Tree Fruits
The fruits of palms and palmettos differ significantly in size and appearance. Queen palms produce bright orange ornamental dates that hang from the tree, adding a splash of color to the landscape. Other palms, like the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera, zones 10-11), bear large, heavy fruits. These coconuts can fall when ripe, sometimes causing property damage or even injuring people standing nearby.
In contrast, palmettos produce much smaller, berry-like fruits, typically less than an inch long. Although these fruits may not be as large or noticeable, they are still important to the ecosystem, as birds often enjoy their delicious taste.
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Final Observations
The differences in size, foliage, flowers, and fruit are significant when comparing palmetto trees and palm trees. Palmettos tend to be smaller, with unique star-shaped fronds, whereas palm trees are often much taller with larger, varied fronds. While both trees belong to the same family, they offer different aesthetic qualities and benefits to landscapes. Whether you’re drawn to palmettos’ compact nature or palm trees’ towering presence, both trees can add beauty and function to any garden or space.
