Sabal uresana

Sonoran palmetto
Broad, often silver, fan-shaped leaves with recurved blades. Foliage feature when young, slowly matures into a large tree with a stout trunk. Dramatic impact. Hardy.
Sabal uresana
height 20–30ft
width 15–20ft
tolerates Cold, Drought, Heat
water
needs		 Moderate
water
info		 This palm should be watered deeply every week or two once it’s established. It doesn’t want to ever dry out completely.
hardy
to		 18F
exposure Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Heavy Soil, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing Palm Fertilizer
origin NW Mexico
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 8, 9, 11–H2

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

Slow growing, though this palm will reach ample proportions with many decades. An adult planting this tree can expect their grand kids to see a thirty foot tall tree. Luckily it is a beautiful foliage feature when young, forming an open, gazebo-like dome of foliage before developing its trunk.
Excellent dry heat tolerance for desert and interior areas of California.
Palms are generally heavy feeders, so if you want them growing quickly and looking their best, they should be fertilized at least three times a year. Fertilizing at spring equinox, summer solstice and fall equinox will allow for a winter rest. Be sure to feed your palm with a fertilizer that contains micronutrients (especially including magnesium), especially if you see yellowing leaves or yellow spots on the leaves.
Fan palms have leaflets spreading from the tip of the rachis, giving the crown of the palm a rounded full look. They tend to rustle in the breeze, adding a soothing note to the garden.

Special Interest

Native to the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains of Sonora and Sinaloa unto 4,000 feet.

This palm contributes to the oasis-style garden, especially when it’s mixed with cactus and other drought-tolerant plants like euphorbias. It also makes an unusual and yet compelling addition to the Mediterranean garden when mixed with lavender, rosemary, and olives.

More Info

A key diagnostic feature is that the petioles are smooth (unarmed), extending well into the leaf blades where they create a “V” shape.