Courtesy of Jess Cole
Dwarf Palmetto
There is perhaps no greater example of flora in all of southern Louisiana. The dwarf palmetto lines our swamps, roads, and our hearts. This medium-sized shrub belongs in every garden as far as I see it, adding excellent texture and accent. Beautiful as a single specimen or en masse, this plant is evergreen, a fast grower, and can handle full sun to full shade, making it an excellent structural plant for any garden. Though it is known as a swamp dweller and characteristic of floodplains, once established it is excellent in dry times as well. I like to capitalize on the plant’s long root system to help stabilize eroding hills or areas that get washed away in floods. Wildlife depend on it for nectar, fruit, protection, and building materials, and Louisiana’s native peoples used the fronds to cover their homes and make baskets.
