(aka: Sabal louisiana) This stunning, and unusual Gulf Coast native is found only in a few swampy areas of Louisiana and east Texas, where it grows among typical Sabal minor. Taxonomists often dismiss Louisiana palmetto palm as a variant of Sabal minor, but the 6′ tall trunk seems to say otherwise. If you don’t agree, perhaps you’ll change your mind after a few whacks with those aforementioned 6′ tall trunks. Perhaps we are seeing speciation in progress or perhaps a relictual natural hybrid as in Sabal x brazoriensis. Sabal minor var. louisiana will reach 12′ tall when mature and resembles Sabal palmetto in form, although it’s a good bit more winter hardy.
