palmetto Palmetto washed up on beach. Help!

[KsLouisiana]

Alright. So I live in Lake Charles Louisiana and about a month ago we took a day trip down to the Cameron Parish beach. For those that don't know this area, the coast is very remote in most parts of Cameron. Not a lot of development.  So we found this palm washed up on the edge of the dunes where everything from the gulf washes up.  It had no leaves left baking out in the salt and sun but a little bit of green on the growth point. So we decided to throw it in the truck and try to rehab it, so we can plant it at our new house in the fall. So we wrapped the roots with dirt and burlap and sure enough it started to grow and even flower in a short amount of time. We definitely know it's some kind of palmetto but not sure what kind. It could even be from the Caribbean or Mexico. Please help identify and give any tips to help the survival. Thanks!

[kinzyjr]

@KsLouisiana

Welcome to PalmTalk!  Pretty incredible recovery!  I'd say it is probably Sabal palmetto.  I'd say make sure that it gets enough water and not to fertilize it for at least 6 months while it recovers.  Hopefully it makes it all the way back to full health.

[KsLouisiana]

Thanks! Finally had a reason to post on here. Sabal palmetto was what I was thinking too. But would you or anyone else recommend cutting the flower stems off so it doesn't put energy into that? I'm staying on the watering. Thanks again!

[kinzyjr]

Just now, KsLouisiana said:

Thanks! Finally had a reason to post on here. Sabal palmetto was what I was thinking too. But would you or anyone else recommend cutting the flower stems off so it doesn't put energy into that? I'm staying on the watering. Thanks again!

I guess you could cut the flowers off to assist it with putting energy into regrowing its crown, but being that it's recovering on its own, I might just let well enough alone.  I'm glad you saved it.  You're welcome!

[JLM]

Sabals palmettos love their water! Glad to see it recovering. That is going to grow to be a very old palm.

[KsLouisiana]

Thanks y'all will update in the future. We hope it makes it!

[palmsrgreat]

Wow, really cool story and find. If it made it through all of that, no doubt you will have it taken care of for life. Best of luck

[Little Tex]

@KsLouisiana update?

[KsLouisiana]

Okay so I guess it's been almost 2 years and it's doing great! I just took these pictures this morning.  I'm thinking it's a sabal louisiana.  The leaves are blueish and definitely don't look like a regular sabal palm.  Do people agree? But it makes it even crazier that it survived being transplanted and sitting in saltwater for who knows how long.  But anyways we bought a house last year and But it in its permanent spot. I think the leaves are still getting more elongated and mature every time it pushes out a new one

[DTS1]

On 3/20/2022 at 11:03 AM, KsLouisiana said:

Okay so I guess it's been almost 2 years and it's doing great! I just took these pictures this morning.  I'm thinking it's a sabal louisiana.  The leaves are blueish and definitely don't look like a regular sabal palm.  Do people agree? But it makes it even crazier that it survived being transplanted and sitting in saltwater for who knows how long.  But anyways we bought a house last year and But it in its permanent spot. I think the leaves are still getting more elongated and mature every time it pushes out a new one

doubt ill get a reply but any updates?

[KsLouisiana]

On 9/24/2022 at 10:45 PM, DTS1 said:

doubt ill get a reply but any updates?

Hey so it's doing great! Been growing all summer. Bloomed and now it has seeds. So definitely a success.  Not growing a ton of height but I think it's a sabal minor so it will probably be slow. I just wish I planted it closer to the house and now I can never move it. Lol

[SeanK]

Great Rescue! The inflorescence eliminates palmetto as a possibility.