Sabal palmetto ‘Lisa’

Sizes

• 4 inch
• 1 gallon

About Sabal palmetto ‘Lisa’

This is a solitary palm cultivar with a sturdy, columnar trunk but is instantly recognizable by its wildly contorted, non-costapalmate, folded-and-crumpled leaves that set it apart from all other Sabal palmetto forms.  Unlike the typical species, ‘Lisa’ lacks the usual fan segmentation — instead, each leaf emerges as a thick, leathery, mostly entire “accordion-like” blade. ‘Lisa’ is believed to have originated as a single natural mutation discovered in South Florida.  Almost all individuals in cultivation descend from the original plant via seed collection — though its traits are not 100% genetically stable, most seedlings express the characteristic curly leaves.  The leaf texture is often described as “elephant-hide,” “melted,” “crumpled,” or “accordion-folded.”The crown is dense and heavy, forming a compact, rounded canopy that looks sculptural and almost ornamental due to the leaf deformation. Inflorescences remain typical of Sabal palmetto: long, arching sprays that extend beyond the crown, carrying many small, cream-colored flowers attractive to pollinators. Fruits are the standard black drupes, though sometimes produced in slightly fewer numbers due to the plant’s energy investment in its unusual foliage. This cultivar is notably rare in cultivation, found primarily among collectors, botanical gardens, and serious palm hobbyists who prize its unusual morphology.