Plant Care Saw Palmetto
1/10
About Saw Palmetto
Fan palm is a small palm that grows in clumps or dense thickets in sandy coastal areas and as undergrowth in pine forests. The plant is highly salt tolerant. It's used as a food plant by moths and butterflies, such as Batrachedra decoctor, which feeds exclusively on the plant.
Taxonomy 
Scientific name
Serenoa repens
Genus
Serenoa
Family
Arecaceae
Order
Arecales
Also known as
Serenoa
How to care for Saw Palmetto
Water Light Nutrients
Jump to summary ↓
See AlsoSaw Palmetto Palm Tree (Serenoa Repens) - A Full Guide 💦 WaterHow often to water your Saw Palmetto
0.5 cups every 9
Saw Palmetto needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every 9
☀️ LightFinding light for Saw Palmetto in your home
3ft or less froma window
Saw Palmetto may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Saw Palmetto in your home 🏡.
🪴 NutrientsHow to fertilize Saw Palmetto
Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Saw Palmetto after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
-
I often see these at the beaches of NC and SC, so I’m wondering about full sun because the ones at the beach are in the full sun so is that acceptable? #SawPalmetto
Browse #SawPalmetto
💡 FAQsSaw Palmetto prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Saw Palmetto Water Frequency →
Saw Palmetto Root Rot →
Saw Palmetto may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.
Saw Palmetto Light Requirements →
Saw Palmetto is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.
Is Saw Palmetto Edible? →
Saw Palmetto Toxicity to Cats →
Saw Palmetto Toxicity to Dogs →
Saw Palmetto Toxicity to Humans →
Saw Palmetto grows very slowly and doesn’t require added fertilizer. Replacing your plant’s potting soil once a year should provide them with more than enough nutrition. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!
How Much and When to Fertilize Saw Palmetto →
Saw Palmetto will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.
Saw Palmetto Lifecycle →
Saw Palmetto Size Guide →
How and When to Prune Saw Palmetto →
USDA Hardiness Zone Saw Palmetto can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 8a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.
Saw Palmetto Temperature Tolerance →
Saw Palmetto Hardiness Zones →
Landscaping Ideas with Saw Palmetto →
When to Plant Saw Palmetto →
How to Plant Saw Palmetto →
Where to Plant Saw Palmetto →
Winter Care for Saw Palmetto →
Best Companion Plants for Saw Palmetto →
Is Saw Palmetto a Weed? →
Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.
Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Saw Palmetto, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.
Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!
When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.
Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.
Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.
Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.
- Common Bugs Affecting Saw Palmetto →
- Drooping Saw Palmetto Leaves →
- Saw Palmetto Dropping Leaves →
- Black Spots on Saw Palmetto →
- Brown Spots on Saw Palmetto →
- Saw Palmetto Leaves Falling Over →
- Saw Palmetto Leaves Curling →
- Saw Palmetto Yellow Leaves →
- Saw Palmetto Root Rot →
- Why Is My Saw Palmetto Wilting? →
What Eats Saw Palmetto? →
Care Summary for Saw Palmetto
Saw Palmetto
Greg recommends:
Water
0.5 cups every 9 days
Placement
< 3ft from a window
Nutrients
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
Trending in your area 
Similar to Saw Palmetto