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Look at this map for the sabal palmetto palm, native to the SE US:
Notice how the range goes quite up the Atlantic Coast, yet doesn't extend far along the Gulf Coast; it just, abruptly, terminates at the FL Panhandle, for seemingly no reason whatsoever.
Could this be a matter of climate, wherein the Gulf Coast sees colder temps than the Atlantic? Or is climate not a problem, with the blame, instead, going to some other factor (soil, distribution center distance, etc)?
Considering that Savannah is quite a bit more prone to extreme cold in winter than Pensacola is, I'm going to guess it has something to do with soil instead.
Why isn't it growing on Cape Hatteras anymore I wonder, that place is a zone 9a climate.
They do . Sabal maximum range goes much farther inland and all over many states as well but maybe it was an original map of native range. The Sabal is a beast, can handle hurricanes, tropical storms, and high winds, fire, cold, I love strong trees like this, one of my favorites. It can handle various soils as well.
There is nothing in the world like the sound of wind through a sabal palm especially on a gorgeous beach at night. The sound of the ocean tide, moonlight and stars, warm sand and wind through a sabal palm. I love the whole sabal genus but the sabal palmetto is just amazing
Last edited by floridanative10; 09-14-2016 at 08:20 PM..
They do . Sabal maximum range goes much farther inland and all over many states as well but maybe it was an original map of native range. The Sabal is a beast, can handle hurricanes, tropical storms, and high winds, fire, cold, I love strong trees like this, one of my favorites. It can handle various soils as well.
There is nothing in the world like the sound of wind through a sabal palm especially on a gorgeous beach at night. The sound of the ocean tide, moonlight and stars, warm sand and wind through a sabal palm. I love the whole sabal genus but the sabal palmetto is just amazing
Yes, it's native range is into NC along/near the coast.
Considering that Savannah is quite a bit more prone to extreme cold in winter than Pensacola is, I'm going to guess it has something to do with soil instead.
Quite a bit might be an exaggeration ...january record cold temp for
Savannah is 3F.....Pensacola it is 5F
Savannah Beach probably about matches Pensacola.
Ultimately climate/temps are a significant factor limiting the range of Sabal Palmetto
northward but not westward, that must be something else, certainly not temps.
This is from Wikimedia commons about maximum range of Sabal palmetto. Understanding how its not tender and how very strong the sabal palm is , seems much more accurate for a range, maybe not non-native range but it certainly is a powerful palm.
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