SCIENTIFIC NAME: Butia capitata

COMMON NAME(S): Pindo palm; Jelly palm
SUB FAMILY: Arecoideae
TRIBE: Cocoeae
ORIGIN: Central-southern Brazil and contiguous Argentina and Uruguay
HARDINESS ZONES: 8-10B (no problem at 18 degrees F), (thought to be hardy to 10)
TYPICAL MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 15'
GROWTH RATE: Slow
HABIT: Solitary; canopy of 40-50 leaves
SALT TOLERANCE: Moderate
DROUGHT TOLERANCE: High
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Widely adaptable
LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: Moderate; high
NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS: Moderate
POPULAR USES: Edible fruit; small tree
HUMAN HAZARDS: Spiny
POPULAR OR RECOMMENDED CULTIVARS:

COMMENTS: Pindo palm is the hardiest feather-leafed palm currently in cultivation. It is used throughout the northern half of Florida as a specimen plant, functioning well in median and even avenue plantings, despite its relatively small stature. Its performance is best above USDA Zone 10B, and it is reputedly hardy into the Carolinas. The arching, blue-green leaves are crowded with many upward pointing leaflets that form a pronounced V-shape. The species is considerably variable in nature, the forms differing in ultimate height, trunk thickness, leaf color and amount of arching, and fruit color and taste. The best quality Pindo fruits are very sweet with a flavor some find reminiscent of a pineapple/banana mixture. They make a tasty jelly. Butia hybridizes readily with its close relative the Queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana) and such hybrids, intermediate in morphology and hardiness, are ocassionally offered by nurseries. Other Species: B. yatay is similar in appearance and hardiness but with more widely spreading leaves. B. eriospatha has shorter, bright green leaves and leaf bases covered with brown hair.