Mutant Palmetto

Mutant Palmetto is the nursery name used for Sabal palmetto ‘Lisa’, a palm selection recognized for its unusual, stiff fronds. The foliage remains less open than that of the familiar cabbage palm, giving the crown a distinctive, strongly folded appearance. ## Form and identification The ‘Lisa’ form is a cultivar of Sabal palmetto, not a separate species. Its leaf segments stay joined farther along the blade and the fronds are less pendulous than those of typical cabbage palm. The [Edison and Ford Winter Estates account](https://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/sabel-palmetto-lisa-the-silver-anniversary-of-a-love-story/) describes the selection’s history and characteristic shallow-sinus fronds. A palm may be seed-grown without showing the same foliage form, so choose a plant whose mature leaves display the trait. ## Planting and establishment This is a large palm selection; the available cultivar account does not give a mature size range. The source notes that established Sabal palmetto ‘Lisa’ palms transplant more successfully than young plants and recommends taking care during planting. Fairview Nursery lists the same selection under the common name Mutant Palmetto and gives a 9a hardiness listing in its [palm inventory](https://fairviewnursery.com/plants/palms/). ## Maintenance Allow room for a solitary palm crown and avoid planting where its eventual scale would crowd paths or structures. Confirm the leaf form before purchase when the named selection matters, since seed offspring can vary.