Sabal yapa

Sabal yapa is a remarkably ornamental palm tree, with very slow growth and accommodating nature, perfectly suited for small spaces and container gardening. Its overall appearance strongly resembles a scaled-down Sabal mauritiiformis, and it also has the advantage of better cold resistance. It is characterized by a slender and smooth false trunk topped by a large crown, composed of beautiful circular palm leaves with a bluish-green colour, deeply divided into thin and gracefully pendulous segments. This Sabal yapa makes a wonderful specimen for decorating a terrace, a veranda, or a coastal garden. 

Sabal yapa belongs to the family of Arecaceae. It is native to Guatemala, Belize, Cuba, and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It is a coastal species that prefers slightly alkaline soil. The plant exhibits very slow growth and can reach a height of 10m (33ft) in the wild. When cultivated in a pot for many years, it rarely exceeds 2m (7ft) in height.  This species prefers sunlight and well-drained, deep soil that remains slightly moist. These shade-tolerant plants can withstand moderate drought. An adult plant will perish below -5 °C. 

When young, the Sabal yapa forms bushy growth and, after many years, develops a single false trunk (stipe), cylindrical, straight, and slender, reaching a diameter of 15 to 26cm (6 to 10in), rough, greenish in colour turning brownish. In this species, the leaf bases do not persist on the stipe. The foliage, abundant and luxuriant, is arranged in a terminal crown at the top of the stipe, eventually reaching a span of 5m (16ft) when grown in the ground. The crown, rounded in shape, is composed of 15 to 20 large costapalmate leaves, meaning palmate leaves arranged in a fan shape around a central axis. In the Sabal yapa, the palm leaves are circular. Juvenile leaves have broader segments, while adult leaves are divided into numerous narrow segments with trailing tips. Indigenous people use them to protect their homes and for making hats or craft objects. The flowering, which occurs on mature individuals, consists of ascending inflorescences between the leaves, branched, with cream-white bisexual flowers (both male and female), extending well beyond the leaves. The fruit is spherical or pear-shaped, measuring up to 1.1cm (1in) in diameter, and turns black when ripe.

The Sabal yapa is a beautiful specimen to grow in containers. This palm can be grown in the ground in sunny and warm coastal gardens. Outside areas with very mild climates, place it near an entrance, on a large terrace, or near a swimming pool, and overwinter it in a greenhouse or a cool veranda. Pair it with cycads or bird of paradise plants (Strelitzia) to create a stunning exotic display.