Paurotis - Everglade Palm, Saw Cabbage Palm, Saw Palmetto, Silver Saw Palm

(Pauro'tis)

DESCRIPTION: This handsome Palm has several common names including Saw Palmetto, Saw Cabbage Palm, Silver Saw Palm and Everglade Palm. This tree is a native of Florida, the West Indies and Central America. It grows from 30 to 40 feet in height and has nearly round leaves that grow 2 or 3 feet across. They are green above and silvery underneath.

POTTING: This Palm can be grown outdoors in mild climates only. It will survive in fairly dry or moist, sandy soil. In cool climates, Saw Palmettos can be grown indoors in large greenhouses having a minimum temperature of 45º F. It should be grown in containers filled with two parts loam and one part leaf mold. While young, it is grown in containers and repotted every year, but as it grows larger, it is set in large tubs or in a prepared bed of soil in the greenhouse. Their containers should have good drainage as this Palm requires an abundance of water during the summer; less should be given during the winter but not so little that the soil becomes dry.

PROPAGATION: Fresh seeds should be used to increase your plants. The outer coating should be notched on one side taking care not to damage the inner embryo. They are then soaked in water at room temperature for two or three days. They are sown in a pan of sandy soil, an inch deep. Place them in a propagating case with bottom heat of 75º to 80º F. Once the first leaves have developed, the baby plants are potted individually in small pots and set back into the glass case. When they've formed a good root system, they are set on open benches and eventually potted in larger sizes. Take care when repotting young Palms, because their roots can easily be damaged. They should only be transplanted in slightly larger pots, because when their roots are surrounded by a large amount of soil they have a chance to decay.

VARIETIES: P. Wrightii.

P. Wrightii

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