Sabal bermudana with seeds

[PalmatierMeg]

The following photos are of my 10-year-old Sabal bermudana and its small crop of seeds. I germinated it back in 2008 from seeds sent to me by a palm friend in Bermuda. S. bermudana is the only palm native to that tiny island off the Georgia coast. It is rare & endangered although Bermuda is making efforts to preserve wild populations and encourage plantings around the island. The photos show typical traits of robust stockiness and a round crown of blue-green leaves. I've read this palm is as cold hardy as its close cousin, Sabal palmetto, although I don't know for sure. But S. bermudana differs from other Sabals in that it can tolerate cool summer climates much better. It prefers full sun but can take part shade.

Sabal bermudana, Cape Coral, FL

 

[NickRB223]

Stunning! Guess it wouldn't hurt to try one here in 8a, see if the cold hardiness is true. 

[Fusca]

Nice palm!  Sounds like a good Sabal for the folks in SoCal.

 

[Steve in Florida]

I've visited or seen photos of huge specimens growing in zone 8a in Texas, Georgia, and Alabama.

[RJ]

I've wanted to purchase a large S. Bermudana but I'm weary of not actually getting one, other then seeds are there tell tail give aways to making a positive identification? 

 

 

Edited October 26, 2018 by RJ

[Jim in Los Altos]

Wow Meg, fantastic to see it fruiting. My S. burmudana is massive and at least 20 years old and has never flowered. I hope you get some viable seed from those clusters!

[PalmatierMeg]

1 hour ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

Wow Meg, fantastic to see it fruiting. My S. burmudana is massive and at least 20 years old and has never flowered. I hope you get some viable seed from those clusters!

It won't be a huge crop. I'm debating whether to sell the seeds or germinate them to sell seedlings next year. But I want to be confident of seed viability so I may as well germinate. This is a Sabal that needs more exposure.

[pietropuccio]

Hello,

maybe I do not see well, but the fruits seem to me globose-depressed, not strongly piriform, as they should be in the Sabal bermudana.

[Moose]

19 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

It won't be a huge crop. I'm debating whether to sell the seeds or germinate them to sell seedlings next year. But I want to be confident of seed viability so I may as well germinate. This is a Sabal that needs more exposure.

I vote to propagate  Seedlings should mail easily 

[PalmatierMeg]

I've posted S. bermudana seeds in the Sale subforum: 25 for $10 + $4 shipping.

[PalmatierMeg]

I've posted all my Sabal bermudana seeds as one lot in the Sale subforum: $25.00 for ~193 seeds + $4.00 shipping = $29.00 total

[bdaalex]

On 10/26/2018, 8:02:13, RJ said:

I've wanted to purchase a large S. Bermudana but I'm weary of not actually getting one, other then seeds are there tell tail give aways to making a positive identification? 

 

 

they are very hard to differentiate. I obviously have lots of exposure to them and am only able to distinguish them from the other Sabals in Bermuda by the length of the inflorescence (shorter). My second comment, and I am hesitant to say this with confidence, is that they seem to lose the leaf bases more freely too.

if you dont know already, they are SLOW... they are about the slowest species we have here even though they are endemic. go figure.

[Meangreen94z]

Any new seeds? Thanks

[Tropicdoc]

Weird. I just noticed some seeds on my bermudana and then I saw this post. Btw 22 F and ice storm didn’t faze the palm

[Meangreen94z]

Actually that’s my interest in this palm. The unusual hardiness of a palm from the tropics. The specimen at John Fairey gardens(pictured on the left 2 weeks later) survived consecutive nights of 10*F and 6*F , along with 5 days below freezing, mostly undamaged. I’ve read elsewhere that it survived 3*F in Mississippi.

1 hour ago, Tropicdoc said:

Weird. I just noticed some seeds on my bermudana and then I saw this post. Btw 22 F and ice storm didn’t faze the palm

 

[ShadyDan]

I too would be interested in seeds if available. Sounds like the perfect Sabal for us PNW folks. 

[Fusca]

11 hours ago, Meangreen94z said:

The unusual hardiness of a palm from the tropics.

It is quite hardy, but I wouldn't consider Bermuda in the tropics.  It's roughly the same latitude as Charleston, SC so not too much different from habitat of Sabal palmetto which is also quite hardy.

[Meangreen94z]

Not physically but Bermuda shows to be USDA zone 11. Sabal Causiarum is from Puerto Rico (and surrounding Islands) which is mostly zone 12/13 and appears to be nearly as hardy as Sabal Palmetto? 

[Collectorpalms]

3 hours ago, Meangreen94z said:

Not physically but Bermuda shows to be USDA zone 11. Sabal Causiarum is from Puerto Rico (and surrounding Islands) which is mostly zone 12/13 and appears to be nearly as hardy as Sabal Palmetto? 

That Sabal that was listed as Sabal Bermudana and Causarium at old Peckerwood does not look like the ones at Mercer Arboretum. The ones at Mercer look like the real deal. I have one bermudana and it’s somewhat majorly burned but I think alive. 

[Collectorpalms]

Here are palms I have though that were Sabal Bermudana. Still, I think they are good enough to be classified as a zone 8b palm for Texas. These are in Hempstead, Texas. October 20, 2020.

Bermudana give me Sabal Birmingham vibes.

Several of these were planted along old  290 many decades ago. 

Edited March 5, 2021 by Collectorpalms

[EastCanadaTropicals]

I would plant those in Vancouver, near a Trachy grove in English Bay Beach. They should be tried more in cool summer climates.

[PalmatierMeg]

Saw this resurrected post and decided to take current photos of my Sabal bermudana. I'm sure this palm is the real deal because a PTer on Bermuda sent me seeds of his native Sabal in 2008. And it is textbook example of the species according to descriptions in Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms. It is stocky and quite slow growing. My bermudana has not set seeds since 2018 and shows no sign of an inflorescense as of today, but the growing season is just starting and I hope it will produce seeds this year. When it does seed it never produces very many. This Sabal is better adapted to cooler summers than other species and is believed to be as cold hardy as Sabal palmetto, which makes it desirable in mediterranean climates like coastal CA. It is a very handsome palm that doesn't overwhelm small yards.

Sabal bermudana, Cape Coral, FL 2021

[Meangreen94z]

Actually , I could have sworn someone had told me on a tour that those two were Sabal Domingensis and Causiarum, but (former) employees of the garden called the one on the left Bermudana more recently. It does look closer to Domingensis photos, and PDN confirmed theirs took 9*F with minimal tip burn

[Tropicdoc]

Will get pics including the fruiting body. I’m My Palm came From jungle music. If it seeds, ill Give them away I don’t have the patience to grow from seed. 

[Collectorpalms]

4 hours ago, Meangreen94z said:

Actually , I could have sworn someone had told me on a tour that those two were Sabal Domingensis and Causiarum, but (former) employees of the garden called the one on the left Bermudana more recently. It does look closer to Domingensis photos, and PDN confirmed theirs took 9*F with minimal tip burn

My Sabal Domingensis purchased 15-20 years old turned out to be a Sabal Louisiana. Then I purchased again another source, just plain minor. These were purchased from normally reputable sources. My burnt Sabal Burmudana looked like the one in the picture I Posted above and the one pictured on RPS and Jungle Music. 

Take a look at the ones at Mercer.. Their Sabal Causarium burned badly in 2018 ( around 19F). The mystery ones at the SABG also burned in 2011 ( around 19 too). 

I think if I was planting another Sabal, it would Causarium. Not because its that cold hardy, but because it is the most unique one,. I actually have seedlings ( I hope), Ill wait to see if the one in Mercer survives.

 

Edited March 6, 2021 by Collectorpalms

[Collectorpalms]

Sabal Burmudana at mercer 5:15-5:20 minutes ( on the right):

A Walk through Mercer Botanical Garden with the Insta360 One X - YouTube

Edited March 6, 2021 by Collectorpalms

[Tropicdoc]

Not sure if the 2 seeds I have will be viable

[DallasPalms]

I want to grow a million+ of these so I'm commenting just for the reminder notification laf

FWIW there is one in Dallas I believe it's at the Walgreens on Cedar Springs and Oak Lawn.... it stands out and I'm just guessing by looks... it definitely survived Uri down to 2F and a week or so straight below freezing! I'm not sure if it defoliated or not though it doesnt seem much taller and still has a beautiful crown 

Edited September 12, 2021 by DallasPalms

[Paradise Found]

I have a young Burmudana that I got from someone on PalmTalk about 4-5 years ago. It is now about a 5 gallon palm and pretty stuff. Doesn't mind are heavy winter rains and growing with some overhead protection and shade. 

I am in a cool summer location, WA state 8a/8b. It was a hot summer this year and it did respond to the extra heat.

Very little damage a few years ago mainly leaf tips. Last winter perfect even with 14" of snow. NEW RECORD, Low last winter 25F.  During the snow event the temp was 31F for high/low. 

After seeing others more mature palms I'm glad I went for it and got one. 

Edited September 12, 2021 by Paradise Found

[Paradise Found]

Here is my little S. burmudana back in early July 2021.  Growing in the understory of the PNW,  (pacific northwest).

Good for you Meg for getting seeds!

[DallasPalms]

This is the palm I mentioned before I'm even more convinced it's a Bermudana after making a special trip @ up close look

The trunk is really thick! That is a long 711 straw in the trunk photo... #BIGgulp

 

 

 

Edited September 20, 2021 by DallasPalms