Native Sabal Minor in Hyde County The most widely distributed native palm in the continental United States. It is native to NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, TX, OK and AR. This small palm was the first palm in the United States to be botanically named and described. It is also known as Blue Stem palmetto and Dwarf palmetto. Sabal Minor is native to most of the NC counties adjacent to the coast and several counties inland from the central coastal plain and south.. It is a very cold hardy bush type palm growing beside creeks and rivers here in eastern NC . The most common size found in habitat here is around three to four feet with no visible trunk, however we have found specimens up to ten feet or so in height with small one to two foot trunks in Hyde, Beaufort, Pamlico and Carteret Counties.. In recent years Sabal Minor has emerged as a very desirable landscape specimen. They are planted as singles or in groups in wet, shady areas where many other plants would not thrive. Minors can also be planted in full sun as long as plenty of moisture is provided and they make a wonderful under-story plant. < Sabal Minor found by Carl Cornelius along a tributary
of the Pungo River in Hyde County. Photo by Carl Cornelius Nursery grown Sabal Minor ten years from seed are now over four feet tall. > Written by Gary Hollar www.garysnursery.com