Serenoa repens, commonly known as Saw Palmetto, is an evergreen shrub native to the coastal plains, sandhills, and pine flatwoods of the Southeastern USA, particularly in Florida and parts of the Gulf Coast. It is a low-growing fan palm with leaves that have a bare petiole terminating in a rounded fan of about 20 leaflets. Saw Palmetto is extremely slow-growing and long-lived, with some specimens in Florida estimated to be 500–700 years old. The sharp teeth or spines on the petiole can break the skin, necessitating protective gear when handling the plant. The leaves exhibit a light green color inland and a silvery-white hue in coastal regions. Yellowish-white flowers, about 5 mm across, bloom in dense compound panicles up to 60 cm long, typically in spring and early summer. The fruit is a large reddish-black drupe, ripening in late summer to fall, and serves as a vital food source for wildlife and historically for humans.

Saw Palmetto is valued for its drought resistance and ability to stabilize sandy soils, making it suitable for xeriscaping and naturalistic plantings. It is also used as a ground cover or low shrub in urban landscapes and can be planted as a hedge. This plant thrives in full sun to part shade and is adaptable to a range of soil types, from well-drained sands to clay, with varying drainage capabilities. While it is generally pest-resistant, it can occasionally suffer from scale insects and fungal diseases. Saw Palmetto is also noted for its medicinal properties, with extracts from its berries used in herbal supplements for prostate health.CC BY-SA 4.0