Puerto Rican Hat Palm Plant Care
Sabal causiarum Becc.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Sabal causiarum, commonly known as the Puerto Rico palmetto or Puerto Rican hat palm, is a species of palm which is native to Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands. As its common and scientific names suggest, its leaves are used in the manufacture of "straw" hats.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
60–90°F
50–80%
At a glance
How do you care for Puerto Rican Hat Palm?
Water Puerto Rican Hat Palm every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 60–90°F (16–32°C) and 50–80% humidity. Fertilize it every 8 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Puerto Rican Hat Palm Native To?
What Is the Puerto Rican Hat Palm?
Puerto Rican Hat Palm (Sabal causiarum) belongs to the Arecaceae family within the Sabal genus. Puerto Rican Hat Palm is native to Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands. Puerto Rican Hat Palm is also known as Cousin Hat Palm.
Puerto Rican Hat Palm displays a tall, single-trunk palm growth habit, reaching up to 30 ft tall with a spread of approximately 10 ft. Puerto Rican Hat Palm produces creamy white flowers in large clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 36 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Puerto Rican Hat Palm?
Sabal causiarum requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Puerto Rican Hat Palm Need?
Puerto Rican Hat Palm thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Puerto Rican Hat Palm Prefer?
Sabal causiarum grows best at temperatures of 60–90°F. Puerto Rican Hat Palm prefers humidity levels of 50–80%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.
Temperature
60–90°F
Humidity
50–80%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Puerto Rican Hat Palm?
Well-draining sandy soil mix with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Puerto Rican Hat Palm to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Puerto Rican Hat Palm?
Feed Puerto Rican Hat Palm every 8 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 8 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Puerto Rican Hat Palm?
Repot every 2-3 years. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Puerto Rican Hat Palm?
Puerto Rican Hat Palm can be propagated through seeds, division of offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to bermuda palmetto plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Puerto Rican Hat Palm Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Puerto Rican Hat Palm, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Puerto Rican Hat Palm?
Puerto Rican Hat Palm is susceptible to spider mites, mealybugs. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Puerto Rican Hat Palm Need?
Puerto Rican Hat Palm grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Puerto Rican Hat Palm is native to Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands. In cooler regions, grow Puerto Rican Hat Palm as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a
Keep exploring plants
Puerto Rican Hat Palm is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Sabal genus — compare its care with other Sabal species on PlantoScan.
Sabal is part of the Arecaceae plant family — browse all Arecaceae genera and species.
Puerto Rican Hat Palm thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Sabal Species
Other Sabal species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Sabal causiarum Becc., family Arecaceae (first published in Webbia 2: 71 (1908)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Puerto Rican Hat Palm, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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