Butia capitata

Common Names: jelly palm, pindo palm
Family: Arecacea/Palmae (palm Family)


Description
This beautiful feather palm has long pinnate leaves that arch and recurve towards the ground from atop a thick stout trunk. The trunk can grow to 20 feet, but normally reaches 12-15 ft (3.7-4.6 m) with a diameter of 1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.5 m). Typically, the old leaf stalks persist for years, although specimens with clean trunks are not uncommon. Leaves range from light green to bluish gray and grow 5 to 10 feet long. The leaf stems range from about 2-4 ft (0.6-1.2 m) in length and have spines along both edges. The palm produces bright orange fruit (often called pindo datesin the Deep South). These palms vary in form from one individual to the next. Specimens raised in dry and/or infertile soils tend to be smaller in stature with smaller leaves. Light also affects the plant's form while those grown in full sun are more compact.

The apparent variability in specimens of B. capitata is also due to the fact that there are several other species in this genus that are very similar in appearance. Palm enthusiasts in this country grow B. yatay which resembles B. capitata but grows taller and has a thicker trunk. Other species include B. eriospatha and B. paraguayensis (which some experts assert is a subspecies of B. yatay). All of these hybridize readily and it is suspected that many of the plants offered as B. capitatamay be hybrids. Butia can also be crossed with Syagrus romanzoffiana (the queen palm) to produce the very handsome mule palm.

Culture
Light: Full sun to moderate shade (the fronds grow longer in shady situations, giving the palm a more graceful aspect than those grown in full sun).
Moisture: Prefers sandy, well drained soil but is adaptable and very drought tolerant. Regular watering and feeding will produce a faster growing, more attractive palm.
Propagation: Seeds. Young palms are often found under palms that have been allowed to produce fruit. It is not unusual to see offspring growing in the old leafboots of a mature tree.

Usage
Use it as a lawn accent or in groupings. This palm is good for urban plantings and can also be grown at the beach behind dunes or other protection. Will adapt to container culture.

Features
This is a beautiful cold hardy palm that is very easy to grow. It is also drought tolerant, inexpensive and readily available at nurseries and discount stores. Like many palms, the pindo produces an elaborate flowering structure called an inflorescence - the orange fruit forms on these structures after the female flowers have been pollinated. In the deep south, a jelly is made from these fruits. They have a terrific taste that starts out like apple and tranforms to tart tropical flavors as it tantalizes the tongue. Too bad the fruit has a large seed and stringy fibrous flesh or I would eat them by the handful!