USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 101 S. Main Street Temple, Texas 76501 254-742-9800 Dwarf East Texas Plant Materials Center 6598 FM 2782 Nacogdoches, Texas 75964 936-564-4873 Irrigation 936-552-7924 (Fax) Palmetto Irrigation is required on newly established plantings, but established, mature plants require no additional water. Planted areas can be irrigated with drip emitters located at each plant to conserve water, flood irrigation, or sprinklers are also appropriate methods. Irrigation during extreme drought periods is recommended to help maintain the stand.

Disease and Pests There are no significant diseases or pest that effect this species.

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nrcs.usda.gov/ Dwarf Palmetto Digging wild plants for transplanting can be problematic. Plant growth from meristematic tissue begins well below ground. If the plant is cut above this area while digging, Propagation & Management it will not survive transplanting (Figure 1). Shoots should be followed down to where they converge on the apex of the meristem and then cut below this union. Transplant Propagation to desired location and keep moist as a new root system develops. Dwarf Palmetto blooms from May through June and sets fruit shortly thereafter. Fruit can be harvested, and seed separated from the fruit pulp. Seed requires no treatment Fertilization to germinate, but cold stratification has shown to improve germination. Fresh seed should be sown in a moist, Dwarf Palmetto favors does not require much fertility to muddy substrate and kept moist until germination occurs. thrive. Fertilize annually to biannually with a balanced Transplant young seedlings into a tall container to allow fertilizer at 50 to 100 pounds per acre. Soil test should deep root growth, and then transplant to the field when be performed to determine preexisting fertility levels and the containers become root bound. Keep young plants or deficiencies. Containerized material will benefit from Sabal Minor in the field moist until they are well established. Once a slow release fertilizer like Osmocote or any commercial established they are very hardy and can tolerate dry palm fertilizer. Dwarf Palmetto favor soils rich in periods. magnesium and manganese; therefore, make certain that Species Information the fertilizers contain these mincronutrients. Dwarf Palmetto, Sabal minor, is a small shrub like palm Plan of Action that reach approximately 6 feet in height. The trunk portion of this palm is below ground with only the leaves extending above the soil surface. The leaves are blade ► Summer 2021, locate wild stand of plants. like and arranged in a fan like pattern. The flowers are white and produce glossy black fruit held in clusters. ► Later Summer- Early Fall 2021, collect fruit and Many Native American groups use this palm for medicinal separate seed. purposes, food, and fiber. ► Early Spring 2022, plant seed in the high tunnel house. Soils

Dwarf Palmetto typically grows in low, wet areas with ► Summer 2022, move seedlings to field site. heavy tight soil, but will tolerate a wide range of soil textures and fertility. It tolerates flooding but it may also be found above the floodplain. It favors slightly acidic soils and will not tolerate calcium carbonate-based, alkaline soils

For soil testing requests, please contact Pittman Labs at Figure 1. Apical meristematic tissue is located well below ground. 936.645.3276 or Steven F. Austin State University Soils Dwarf Palmetto has to be cut below this tissue point (shown by Lab at 936.468.4500. the arrow) in order to survive.