Species PlantsTexas Sabal Palm

Texas Sabal Palm

Sabal mexicana

RarePlant
Illustration of Texas Sabal Palm (Sabal mexicana)

The Texas Sabal Palm once formed vast palm groves along the lower Rio Grande Valley but is now reduced to a tiny remnant population, making it one of North America's most threatened native palms. It reaches up to 50 feet tall and produces abundant small dark fruits. The Sabal Palm Sanctuary near Brownsville, Texas protects one of the last native stands. It is closely related to the Cabbage Palm but is native to the subtropical tip of Texas and northernmost Mexico.

Habitat
Subtropical riparian thickets and woodland edges along the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.
Diet
Fruits eaten by chachalacas, green jays, coyotes, and ocelots; a keystone species in Rio Grande wildlife corridors.
How common
Rare

Best time to see a Texas Sabal Palm

The best time to see a Texas Sabal Palm is January–June, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 1,054 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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