Cabbage palm hammocks are characterized as clumps of cabbage palms and live oaks living in the midst of prairies or marshes.  These hammocks occur on slight rises in relatively flat terrain and are supported by sandy foundations overlaying calcareous marls.  During times of very high water, cabbage palm hammocks may flood, but are rarely inundated for more than 10 to 40 days a year.  Their understory is open with plants including saw palmetto, wax myrtle, water oak, stoppers, marlberry, pigeon plum, poison ivy, poisonwood, orchids, and lidflowers (Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 1990).

Cabbage palm hammocks can tolerate only occasional light ground fires.  More frequent or severe fires may damage the hammock (Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 1990).