Palmetto tree vs palm tree is a comparison-worthy notion knowing that both trees belong to the Arecaceae family and grow in tropical and subtropical climates. Since these trees share a family, they are similar in some ways, like their growing conditions.
However, the trees’ differences are also apparent, giving gardeners an easier time when buying. Read on to find their differences and choose the best one.
| Features | Palmetto tree | Palm tree |
| Leaf shape | Wide fan-shaped leaves | Thin, spiny, feather-shaped leaves |
| Leaf pattern | Leaves have parallel veins and cluster at the base | Leaves are pinnate with a deep green hue and grow horizontally from a stalk |
| Tree height | About 30 feet | About 60 feet |
| Fruits | Berry-sized fruits | Large sized fruits |
| Trunk | A small trunk that grows horizontally | A long elongated trunk that grows vertically |
| Flowers | Small white or yellow flowers with fragrance | Yellow or white monoecious flowers |
| Growth environments | Require cool areas like under a tree | Require temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit with little rain |
| Toxicity | Toxic | Toxic |
Contents
The Main Differences Between the Palmetto Tree and Palm Trees
The main difference between the palmetto tree and palm tree is in their appearance. The palmetto tree is short and grows to an average height of 30 feet, having tiny fruits. On the contrary, palm trees are tall, with most growing up to 60 feet tall, producing large-sized fruits.
Besides the varying heights, you can also differentiate a palm tree from a palmetto by comparing their leaves. Palms have thin, spiny, feather-shaped leaves and grow horizontally from the stalk. Their sizes can be 18 to 36 inches, and they are pinnate.
Palmetto leaves are wider to absorb more sunlight because the shrub grows under tall trees. They are also parallel-veined and primarily grow to a length of 36 inches. The leaves are fan-shaped and grow in clusters at the base to produce a stem, creating a shrub shape.
Another distinctive feature of these trees is the growth of the trunk and its structure. When identifying a palmetto tree, you will notice that the trunk grows horizontally and has long roots. These help the tree absorb water for faster growth. In addition to this, the trunk also has extra adventitious roots, which increase surface area for absorption.
Palm trees’ trunks grow vertically and are long and elongated, making the trees taller than palmettos. The trees grow in open areas to get enough sunlight, and the outdoor grown ones reach their maximum potential heights.
Exploring Features, Growing Conditions, And Uses of The Palmetto Tree
The palmetto tree is a tree with broad fan-shaped evergreen leaves with parallel veins forming a cluster at the base. These plants are shorter and prefer growing under tall trees, hence their broad leaves. In addition, palmettos produce yellowish-white flowers which bear dark edible berries.
The palmetto, also called the cabbage palmetto or the sabal palmetto, is native to the coastal plain of South Carolina. They are short upright trees primarily used for landscaping and as border plants. You can grow these plants indoors or outdoors to add aesthetics to the space.
– Tree Size and Trunk Structure
Palmetto plants are a perfect choice for a landscaping tree because they are short and grow upright. They have an average height of 30 feet, ideal for a border plant, making them significant. These trees are primarily bushy because they grow horizontally instead of vertically.
Palmetto’s trunk is short and robust to withstand strong winds and they would stay strong with their roots deeply dug. The tree’s roots are fibrous and grow horizontally to the ground to help them absorb more water, and they survive better in sandy soils. If you observe a mature palmetto closely, you will notice adventitious roots in some palmettos, which are inactive.
– Leaf Shape and Color
Palmetto palms have broad, edible, fan-shaped leaves with a bluish-green to olive-green hue that produces sharp thorns at the petioles. The thick flat funnel-shaped leaves have a star-shaped pattern with parallel veins.
The leaves are significant to provide enough surface area for absorbing sunlight. This is because the plants mostly grow under other trees, hence little exposure to sunlight. The foliage is also stiff and can grow to about 36 inches long.
– Flowers And Fruits
Not all palmettos bloom, and this is why some varieties do not flower their entire life, while others produce different blooms. For example, the saw palmettos have long sticks with yellowish-white flowers, while the dwarf palmetto produces fragrant white flowers at the leaf’s tip. The scrub palmetto can be disappointing with its flowers, and the blooms are white, small, and unattractive; you might not enjoy staring at them.
Palmetto’s tiny berries are primarily red, and others are dark and favorite to birds. Some of this plant’s varieties produce berries that are edible and provide nutritional, sedative, and cough-reducing properties. They can also be eaten as a whole or dried and ground to make tea.
– Light Requirements
Palmetto palms have big leaves because they grow under trees, meaning they prefer shade. These vast leaves absorb sunlight for photosynthesis. However, the plant will not appreciate harsh sunlight because it scorches the leaves.
If grown indoors, you can place the pot near the window to receive indirect sunlight. Ensure the window has a sheer covering to avoid passing strong sun rays to the plant, or else the plant will go through stress.
– Watering Requirements
These are the types of trees that grow in subtropical South Carolina, so they don’t need daily watering, which is why you may opt to irrigate the plant if the topsoil is dry. However, don’t let the tree stay without water for too long because the leaves will start browning at the tips.
Also, ensure you don’t overwater your palmetto, and this is due to the fact that too much water causes root rot to the plant, which can cause significant irreversible damage leading to the death of the plant. Growing the plant in well-draining soil and ensuring the pot has draining holes is one way to prevent overwatering.
– Uses
These trees are known to produce an extract used to treat urinary and reproductive health. The plant has a beautiful structure, and its small size makes it a decorative tree. Homeowners can use palmetto leaves as fuel to save on gas and coal.
Exploring The Features, Uses, And Growth Conditions of Palm Trees
The palm tree is a tropical and subtropical plant with thin and feather-shaped leaves, which are pinnate with deep hues from how it grows horizontally. The tree, however, would grow about 60 feet tall with its elongated trunk and produce large-sized fruit.
Palms are the go-to trees if you want to add a tropical flair to your home. Since these trees grow tall, you need the small, immature palms to use indoors as a pop of greenery. You also must provide the tree with the necessary growing requirements to enjoy its beauty and how tall it would grow.
Besides adding a tropical aesthetic feel to your home, palms produce an excellent cosmetic oil called palm oil. They also make beverages and are used as fuel in many places. When planted indoors, these trees require once-in-a-while repotting and treatment from pests and diseases.
– Tree Size
Palm trees are easily noticed because of their size. They grow tall, giving your compound that tropical feel. However, some palm species are slow growing and won’t attain the average 40 to 60 feet height.
Others are fast-growing, have long trunks, and can reach the maximum size. As a result of this matter, you must choose a palm species depending on how tall you want your tree to be, even though, if you consider growing indoor-grown palms, you must take into notice how they don’t grow tall because of less exposure to sunlight.
– Trunk Structure
Palm trees can be identified by their trunk structure; in addition, these tropical plants’ long, elongated trunks grow vertically. Nevertheless, their shapes are different depending on the specie of your palm, and in general, most tall varieties have long slender trunks, and this is what distinguishes these trees from others.
On the other hand, the dwarf varieties have short chubby trunks, while others have clustered tiny trunks growing closely together. These varieties are mostly grown indoors because they are shorter and can fit in rooms.
Palm trunks also have a different texture, as some are smooth and slender, while others are bumpy and ringed with a brown tint. When you check different varieties, you may think about, why are palm trees hairy. Some palm varieties are covered in fiber or husks for protection from feeding by insects, leaving them with a furry look.
– Leaves Shape and Color
Palms draw most of their beauty from the thin, spiny, feather-shaped leaves, as these leaves are medium to large and elongated. Some are pinnate, and others palmate, making different tree forms.
Palm leaves’ spiny and feather shape make the plant perfect for landscaping. Besides, the foliage is primarily green and rarely shed unless a pest or disease attacks the tree. When you look closely, you will also notice the V-shape on the foliage and a mid-vein at the apex.
The parallel-shaped veins grow horizontally from the stalk. Some are shiny to reflect sun rays away, and the shininess also adds tropical aesthetics to the compound or house.
You will also notice a similarity in the leaf shapes when comparing palm trees vs. coconut trees. However, the coconut trees’ foliage resembles a skinny diagonal blade, grows opposite each other, and is wider than palm trees.
– Flowers And Fruits
If flowers excite you, and you can’t wait for your palms to bloom, you must plant them outdoors because this is where they will have the ability to produce. On the other hand, indoor palm trees do not flower because they don’t live long enough to reach the flowering age. However, you might see the soft-to-touch white or yellow flowers if they grow in the compound.
The blooms grow to produce large and heavy coconuts, or dates. Other palm varieties have acai berries resembling grapes; others bear sweet edible jelly and wine palms. While most of these fruits are attractive, their edibility depends on the species of palm tree they come from.
– Watering Requirements
You must strike the right balance when watering palms to help them grow properly. These trees will not fuss after missing a watering session for two or three days but don’t neglect them for too long.
When you water the plant less than the required amount, it can slow down its growth rate and affect the leaves’ rigidity. However, the leaves will return to shape after regularly watering the plant, which is why you can water it once you notice the topsoil is dry.
Avoid having your palm sit in a pool of water because it suffocates the roots and causes root rot. You can save your plant from too much moisture by keeping the soil mix loose to allow excess water drainage.
– Temperature
Palms originate from tropical forests, and the climate there is warm, so having this in mind, you must keep the house at the correct temperature for the trees to survive and thrive. The plant will appreciate temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but note that the tree could die anything below this.
You can also buy the cold-hardy palm varieties to keep them indoors; if the temperatures drop, keep your home warmer using a heater. However, don’t place the plants too close to the heater to avoid burning the leaves.
Providing the correct temperatures for palm growth could be challenging during winter. And since the subtropics have lower temperatures, do palm trees grow in South Carolina? The short answer is yes, as the weather would be sustainable for it to thrive.
While the region experiences cold climates, South Carolina palms are hardy enough to withstand the occasional low temperatures. Some, like the cabbage palm, are common in North and South Carolina.
– Light Requirements
Palm trees won’t demand eight hours of sunlight daily, its because they can survive in low light conditions and are suitable indoor plants. In fact, some species don’t appreciate too much direct sunlight because it scorches the leaves, on the contrary, they would like to be placed in a location to receive bright indirect light, and others do well in little light.
– Pruning
As a good parent plant, you want to keep your palm aesthetically pleasing by removing yellow or brown leaves. However, before you get down to work with your scissors, remember that even these yellow leaves provide nutrients to the plant.
One thing about palms is that leaves are less overcrowded, so it is not a reason to prune the plant. Therefore, you must be careful when trimming the plant. First, never prune a palm tree because you want to reduce its size. Removing the tip can kill the entire plant. Also, do not cut the leaves from the stem; only remove them after they have turned brown.
– Uses
Palms are beautiful tropical plants grown for their aesthetics in homes and offices, thanks to their beautiful size and leaf shape. The plant’s strong trunk acts as a windshield when grown outdoors.
Palms produce different fruits like coconuts, berries, wines, and jerries used to make palm wine, beverages, and cosmetic products. Palm oil is also an edible vegetable oil that originates from palm fruits.
The tree fronds are strong enough to make baskets and hats, and the trunks make strong wood for building houses and fences. Besides, palm trees are extensive, providing shade and privacy and creating natural privacy.
Conclusion
The palmetto and palm tree belong to the same family, but this review shows that they have a significant difference. First, when looking for a palmetto tree for sale, you can differentiate it from the palms by comparing their heights. Palms grow taller than palmettos and have longer trunks; you can also, check the difference in the tree leaves and fruits.
When choosing the plant to buy, consider the aesthetics you want to create. The palmetto tree will be suitable if you want a short, shrub-like tree. However, you may also buy it to fill a space under giant trees. Palms grow tall and are ideal for open spaces.
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