What kind of Sabal Palm is this?

[palmaddict83]

I was browsing a local DFW nursery and they had these 3 sabals that I'm interested in. The clerk didn't know what kind of Sabal it was and the label said "Sabal Palm - rated to 25F, grows up to 50 feet"

I thought it was a Texas Sabal but being rated to only 25F on the label threw me off (Texas sabals are rated to like 10F). Aren't all Sabals rated lower than 25F? I'm looking for a cold hardy palm to 10F atleast.

I searched every Sabal possible on the internet but to me it looks like a Texas Sabal. What do you think? 

[Harry’s Palms]

Personally , I would be cautious buying field grown Sabal. They don’t transplant easily . The new growth looks like they are already in transplant shock. The one on the right in particular looks pretty bad. , the one on the left isn’t any better. Maybe someone else with experience can add some advice but I would pass. I know Sabal that size can be very expensive , but I would look for Sabal that have not been recently dug out of the ground . Harry

[SeanK]

Is it customary to dig S.mexicana from the wild? Palm #1, #3 are goners. Perhaps #2 would survive, but it is ill advised to transplant Sabals with so little trunk. 

[MarcusH]

6 minutes ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Personally , I would be cautious buying field grown Sabal. They don’t transplant easily . The new growth looks like they are already in transplant shock. The one on the right in particular looks pretty bad. , the one on the left isn’t any better. Maybe someone else with experience can add some advice but I would pass. I know Sabal that size can be very expensive , but I would look for Sabal that have not been recently dug out of the ground . Harry

They don't look very good to me either . I honestly would pass but the only way to get a sabal this size is buying one at the nursery.  Look for regenerated palms those have a much higher chance of survival.  One thing I would like to point out is that commercial nurseries give you a 1 yr warranty, if they install it for you.  Pricey but worth it. 

To answer the question above I'm not sure if it's a palmetto or mexicana. Usually mexicana have long thick petioles that are tight up together at the nursery. 

[Fusca]

9 hours ago, palmaddict83 said:

I was browsing a local DFW nursery and they had these 3 sabals that I'm interested in. The clerk didn't know what kind of Sabal it was and the label said "Sabal Palm - rated to 25F, grows up to 50 feet"

I thought it was a Texas Sabal but being rated to only 25F on the label threw me off (Texas sabals are rated to like 10F). Aren't all Sabals rated lower than 25F? I'm looking for a cold hardy palm to 10F atleast.

I searched every Sabal possible on the internet but to me it looks like a Texas Sabal. What do you think?

I think the nursery doesn't know what species of Sabal palm it is and just put out a temperature of 25°F to cover the bases.  I believe the least cold hardy Sabal is good to 25°F so no need to worry about that.  I've seen Butia odorata labeled at Lowe's as hardy to 30°F!

I personally can't tell which species it is but Sabal mexicana is a pretty good guess.  Seems that it's a thicker trunk than palmetto.  Here in the RGV it's common practice for growers to field dig mexicana with as little as 3' of trunk.  I bought one myself 3 years ago and it's doing fine but it still isn't very attractive yet.  They're tough but need a ton of water to get through the acclimation of the transplant.

[Harry’s Palms]

The trunk does look large in diameter for its height if it were anything I’m familiar with . I have a Sabal Riverside ( I think) could be Palmetto . It was grown from a seedling that was a gift from a collector who wasn’t sure which it was as the tags got mixed up or misplaced. It has been in the ground over 25 years full sun the whole time . Harry

‘The trunk on this is over 6’ tall measured from the top side of the of the slope , bigger than it looks from up on my deck. 

[Chester B]

If they don’t know what it is, then how can they say how cold hardy it is?

Likely Sabal mexicana. 

[Las Palmas Norte]

@palmaddict83 you should buddy up with a knowledgeable palm enthusiast from your area and go shoppin'. Regards.

[PalmatierMeg]

Agree with everybody above. Large Sabals require at least 4-6' of clear trunk (CT) to be safely transplanted or you risk fatally damaging the growing point. Keep looking.

The most cold sensitive Sabal is S. mauritiiformis which is tolerant down to around freezing.