Transplanting Saw Palmetto

[Joe NC]

I have a silver saw palmetto that I planted in too much shade.  It is surviving here in Z8a but not thriving.  It is also getting swallowed up by the surrounding much more vigorous vegetation.

I would like to move it to a location with much more sun.

Do they transplant well?

[Fusca]

From what I've read large clumps do not transplant well but if yours is relatively small you might succeed.  I planted a 15-gal plant from a container to the ground and it suffered for months afterwards from the minimal shock it experienced.  Crazy.

[SeanK]

You should cauterize the roots when you dig it up.

[Swolte]

I have had good luck transplanting a relatively small one. I am not sure if what I did helped but I carefully dug with my hand at several distances from the plant to determine how far out the root system was. I was then able to move the clump with 90+% of roots.  Plant is doing well now.