Sabal palmetto with variegated petioles but green leaves

[Eric in Orlando]

I found this juvenile Sabal palmetto growing in an old cemetery in Plant City, FL (about 60 miles SW of Orlando, near Tampa). The petioles are strongly variegated but there is no variegation in the leaves. Unfortunately this palm has sprouted right next to a grave and it has been cut down before. It is very striking.

[Jastin]

Cool!

[Milos Srejic]

I 've never seen this kind of variety before, but it looks very cool!

[Eric in Orlando]

I wish it could be transplanted.

[sarasota alex]

There is an area of about a 1000 sq ft in the Myakka River State park where there is one mature one like that and a few juveniles. I may have pictures. Please stand by.

[Jeff Searle]

Pretty nice Eric.

[Balmy]

My variegated sabal palm... 10' to crown. I believe mature enough for transplanting. Wild grown in Lee county, FL.

(This palm shrugged off Hurricane Irma like it was just a gentle blow. :-) Some of my other taller regular sabals took a bit of a lean. )

I may sound immodest describing this specimen as perhaps the most spectacular variegated sabal palm... in the world?

(It's just that... I've never seen pictures of any variegation remotely comparable in a sabal palm.)

An amusing story about my discovery of this palm on my property. I thought it simply an interesting plant, but nothing special. One day a couple of horticulture PhDs came by for a visit. As I pulled up to the property, Fred jumped out of the truck, before the truck had come to a stop. He ran up to the palm and just stood there, frozen and slack jawed. Once I parked the truck I walked over to Fred. I thought he was having some kind of grand mal siezure. He was standing there shaking. I said "Fred, what's wrong?" He says, "Do you know what this is?" I replied, a "Sabal palm." He replies... "Yes... but it's variegated." Then proceeds to give me a summary explanation of the significance... I am a plant lover... but had no idea.

 

Available for sale.

Edited March 4, 2018 by Balmy

[SouthFLA]

Found this small cluster of varigated sabal palmetto while driving in SW Florida. Several adults and multiple juveniles growing in close proximity. I collected about 1000 seeds that I'll put in liners to see what percent are green vs varigated. I wager that a large percent will be varigated because of their close proximity to each other. The adjacent property owner knows very little about them other than that they are unusual. Unfortunately, they are all directly below high voltage electric facilities so the local utility will cut them down when they grow a little taller.

[palmnut-fry]

I would think, SFLA, that some local tree outfit would gladly come and move them as they would be worth quite a lot ( as long as property owner agrees, of course)! I've made quite a stink in my own city when an old group of plain- ole Sabal texanas were about to be bulldozed years ago! I called several agencies to no avail but maybe somebody rescued, I didn't have the stomach to follow their fate at the time (plus lived out in the boonies from in town!). But you might check on it and see? These are gorgeous!

[Variegatahaveit]

On 3/4/2018 at 8:31 AM, Balmy said:

My variegated sabal palm... 10' to crown. I believe mature enough for transplanting. Wild grown in Lee county, FL.

(This palm shrugged off Hurricane Irma like it was just a gentle blow. :-) Some of my other taller regular sabals took a bit of a lean. )

I may sound immodest describing this specimen as perhaps the most spectacular variegated sabal palm... in the world?

(It's just that... I've never seen pictures of any variegation remotely comparable in a sabal palm.)

An amusing story about my discovery of this palm on my property. I thought it simply an interesting plant, but nothing special. One day a couple of horticulture PhDs came by for a visit. As I pulled up to the property, Fred jumped out of the truck, before the truck had come to a stop. He ran up to the palm and just stood there, frozen and slack jawed. Once I parked the truck I walked over to Fred. I thought he was having some kind of grand mal siezure. He was standing there shaking. I said "Fred, what's wrong?" He says, "Do you know what this is?" I replied, a "Sabal palm." He replies... "Yes... but it's variegated." Then proceeds to give me a summary explanation of the significance... I am a plant lover... but had no idea.

 

Available for sale.

I would love to buy seeds from your palm or maybe the palm itself depending on the price. I’ve been trying to find this variety variegated for a long time.