How long does it take for a Sabal seedling to die after transplanting

[Cosmo]

AN acquaintance I just met was sharing some plants. He has some beautiful S. mexicannas that were bearing seed and literally around the trunks where the mower couldn't reach and he hadn't weed wacked was about a 2+ inch ring of this years seedlings. SO thick it looked liked turf grass. I mentioned that I'd love to have a few of them if only they would grow after being dug up. Well he grabs his spade and unceremoniously lifts up enough to fill several 3 gallon containers full of these things and says here. The TX gumbo they were growing in was a dry as set concrete and about as hard. I watered them down and over the next 2 weeks planted them in my landscape.

It's been going on a month now since they were dug up and they still are green and happy in my landscape. No new growth but they haven;t browned out. So how long can a seedling remain green if it is dead. I know mature fronds can stay green for awhile but these are still in the strap stages. Thanks

Frank

[Brad Mondel]

They're still alive if the central spear (apical meristem) is still green and intact. Try pulling on the spear gently and if it pulls out they're on their way out.

[Pal Meir]

No PHOTOS?

Here a seedling of mine, 2 years and a half old:

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

Sabal mexicana will die within two weeks after being dug. If they are alive after that the will survive, but grow very slow.