As a group, Sabals are readily distinguished from other palms by their split bases that turn a whitish grey and form a rather consistent and attractive crisscross pattern along the trunk. But among Sabal varieties, identification can be tricky — so encourage your comments in the review section or blog.
The is truly a home town original, receiving its name from Riverside, CA, where a single specimen was discovered during the 1950s in a local park.
The S. riverside is a robust, fast growing palm ideally suited to Southern California. Its leaf bases are rather tidy, with reddish sheaths that appear finely woven between the split bases. The leaf stalks, or petioles, are long and robust, holding up a comparatively large dull green frond with wide leaf segments, often drooping toward the tips. Segments are divided aggressively, nearly to 1/2. The leaf is deeply folded and costapalmate, with a strong curved arch.
The S. riverside favors the heat offered from an inland summer, though they tolerate the cooler coastal areas and moderate salty air as well as the extremes of the California desert, provided they are given a little extra care and water.
Native to Mexico, the Caribbean and Southern United States, the Sabals lend an attractive, tropical look to any landscape. Despite doing exceptionally well in the California climate, they are not regularly seen or cultivated here, as opposed to the ubiquitous Washingtonias, Kings or Queens that can be found along every sidewalk, street corner or dangling over backyard fences.
