PlantFiles: Cabbage Palm, Sabal Palm
Sabal 'Birmingham'

I have a 2 - year old plant in the ground with about 7 or 8 strap leaves, with near 0 °F here in Roanoke VA which is supposed to be a zone "7A" , all the leaves died back to within a few inches of the ground. I decided to dig it up and keep it inside at least until it has grown some fronds. I must say that it developed an impressive & healthy root system after only being in the ground for about 9 months. I am going to obtain a larger specimen for the spring and see how it does next winter.

The most trunking palm you can find. Unlike T. Fortunei which defoilage in freeze winter, Sabal Birmingham is bullet proof hardy.

There are currently two varieties in the market, the one from Wichita Kansas seed grown from Woodlanders and other one fromTulsa OKlahoma. Slow grow, might need ten years to see the trunk. It stays green all year round. It might or might not be a hybrid of Sabal Palmetto (Cabbage Palm} and Sabal Minor.

Since it rarely get tip burns in freeze winter, it beats Sabal Palmetto and become the best cold hardy trunking palm.

I planted ten of them in my yard, there is only one got killed because I planted it in a 15 gallons pot and left it out in freeze. All the others were survived because they were all in the ground even some were planted in late fall. The conclusion is do not leave it in the pot unless you want to move it indoor in winter.