Florida and South Carolina's state tree, the sabal palm (Sabal palmetto), also called the cabbage palm, grows to a height of 50 feet as a landscape tree, according to Floridata. Its trunk measures up to 10 to 15 feet in diameter. A relatively hardy tree, it offers low maintenance and exceptional salt tolerance. Does this Spark an idea?
Considerations
In 2008, many sabal palms began to die around the Tampa, Florida region. Phytoplasma, an unculturable bacterium, caused the rapid decline, through death of the tree's canopy, flowers and fruit, according to the University of Florida's website. Administration of the antibiotic oxytetracycline HCl works as a cure -- if the infection is relatively new -- or as a preventative. Owners must destroy severely infected trees.
Disease Prevention
Ganoderma butt rot (Ganoderma zonatum) also afflicts sabal palms. There is no cure for the disease and the tree will ultimately die, according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension's website. A fungal infection, it enters the tree through wounds near its base. Avoid watering the tree's trunk because excessive moisture can help the fungus to gain entrance into the tree's system.
Pest Identification
Cabbage palm caterpillars (Litoprosopus futilis) and scales commonly infect the sabal palm, but are controllable through insecticide spray applications. The giant palm weevil (Rynchophorus cruentatus) can kill newly planted, young sabal palms if not controlled, according to the University of Florida's IFAS Extension website.
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