PlantFiles: Scrub Palmetto
Sabal etonia

Scrub Palmetto (Sabal etonia) is native and endemic to the dry sandy sites and Florida Scrub habitats of much of north-central and central Florida and parts of southeastern Florida (zones 8b to 10b). It is often confused with the more widespread and also native Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens). However, Scrub Palmetto generally is shorter than the Saw Palmetto. Also, the fronds of the Scrub Palmetto generally do not have as sharp spines as the Saw Palmetto or may not have any spines at all. The flower stalk of Sabal etonia (Scrub Palmetto) also does not extend as much as Serenoa repens (Saw Palmetto).

Like Saw Palmetto, Scrub Palmetto is useful for wildlife.

THis native Florida palm is usually stemless and has markedly costapalmate leaves that are often a light green. This palm is often confused with Sabal minor, which is the other stemless palm (both can have stems up to 6' tall), but that palm has flat palmate leaves, is more blue-greenish and that palm has flowers that extend way beyond the leaf length. Sabal etonia's flowers are usually as short, or shorter than the leaves and usually sit on the ground. It can also be confused with Sabal palmetoo seedlings, but those don't flower as a trunkless palm and usually have darker green leaves.