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Saw Palmetto: What It Is and How to Use It

Saw Palmetto: What It Is and How to Use It

Saw palmetto is the dark purple-black berry of Serenoa repens, a fan palm native to the southeastern United States. The dried berries have a long history in American herbal tradition and are one of the most widely sold bulk botanicals in natural food stores. You can find them at William's Natural Foods, 12249 San Pablo Ave, Richmond, CA 94805, where we carry them in our bulk herb section.

Available in Bulk

We carry saw palmetto in our bulk herb section so you can grab the exact amount you want — from a spoonful to try it to a full bag for ongoing use. Our staff can help you find it in the bulk bins and answer questions about the forms we stock.

What We Carry

  • Saw palmetto berries, cut and sifted (C/S) — dried whole berries, cut for teas and traditional preparations, sold by weight.
  • Saw palmetto berry powder — fine-ground berries for customers who prefer powder form.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do saw palmetto berries taste like?

Saw palmetto berries have a pungent, peppery, slightly soapy taste that most people find strong — they are not eaten for pleasure. Traditionally the berries are prepared as a tea or tincture rather than eaten whole. The flavor is often described as sharp and oily, characteristic of the palm family.

What is saw palmetto traditionally used for?

Saw palmetto berries have a long history in American folk herbalism, particularly in the Southeast where the palm grows wild. Herbalists have traditionally used the berries as a tonic herb, and they became one of the most popular native American medicinal plants in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today the berries remain a staple of the bulk herb trade.

Where does saw palmetto grow?

Saw palmetto is native to the coastal plain of the southeastern United States, from South Carolina through Florida and west to Louisiana. It grows as a low, shrubby fan palm in sandy soils and pine flatwoods. Almost all commercial saw palmetto berries are wild-harvested in Florida.

How should saw palmetto berries be stored?

Keep the cut berries or powder in an airtight container away from light, heat, and moisture, like any dried botanical. Stored properly, the cut berries hold their quality for a year or more; powder loses potency faster, so buy only what you will use within a few months.

Did you know? The USDA notes that saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is native to the southeastern coastal plain and is one of the most common understory plants in Florida's pine flatwoods, where its berries feed black bears, deer, and many other animals (source: U.S. Department of Agriculture / U.S. Forest Service plant guides).

Visit William's Natural Foods at 12249 San Pablo Ave, Richmond, CA — open Monday through Friday 9 AM to 7 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. Our staff are happy to help you find saw palmetto in the bulk herb section.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or a qualified health professional about any health questions.