This cute north-central Florida endemic to very dry, sandy soils has proven to be another great cold-hardy palm for us in Zone 7b. Sabal etonia is effectively a dwarf, subterranean, trunked Sabal palmetto with the same costapalmate leaves (the center of the leaf folds downward). Our 20-year-old specimen measures 4′ tall x 8′ wide. Sabal etonia also has much smaller leaves with narrower leaf segments than either Sabal minor or Sabal palmetto, and much more condensed flower spikes. As the leaves age, expect small threadlike filaments to appear on the leaves…great for sewing if you find yourself on a central Florida sand dune with a needle and no thread.
