Rio Grande Palmetto

The Sabal mexicana or Rio Grande Palmetto is native to the very south of North America (think Texas, Mexico etc.).Rio Grande Palmetto is grown as an ornamental palm for its stately form but also for its robust drought-tolerance and general hardiness. The wood of the trunk is resistant to decomposition which has made it popular in the past for fence posts and even wharf pilings.

Other species of the genus Sabal are fairly widely available in NZ, but not this variety: 'mexicana'. Very seldom seen in this country.