South Carolina and the Palm Tree



 

 

"The Palmetto State"

The official nickname for South Carolina is The Palmetto State, which refers to the state tree (the sabal palmetto). Commonly called the cabbage palmetto, the sabal palmetto (Inodes Palmetto) was added to the "National" flag of South Carolina after it seceded from the Union in 1861. A palmetto remains on the present-day state flag, a sabal palm appears on the South Carolina state seal, and is even mentioned in the salute to the flag of South Carolina ("I salute the flag of South Carolina and pledge to the Palmetto State love, loyalty and faith").