Pindo Palm
Location
General Plants
Butia capitata
- Common Name: Pindo Palm
- Scientific Name: Butia capitata
- Family Name: Arecaceae
- Origin: Native to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.
- Height: 15’ – 25’
- Width: up to 15’
- Growth: Slow grower
- Zone: 8A – 11
- Light Needs: Full sun or partial shade
- Salt Tolerance: Moderate.
- Soil/PH/Texture: Can tolerate a variety of soil types, even poor soils, neutral (pH 6.6 – 7.5).
- Soil Moisture: Somewhat moist– minimal irrigation, does not like to be kept overly wet.
- Drought Tolerance: Has a high tolerance to drought and humidity.
- Pests/Diseases: Resistant to pests and diseases.
- Growing Conditions: Fertilize on a regular schedule with a Palm fertilizer that has all the minor elements, apply 4 – 6 times throughout the year.
- Characteristics: This elegant evergreen palm has blue-grey fronds, that are feather-like, with a curve and can get up to 6’ in length. Fronds have spines/prickles on them so be careful while handling them. When it blooms in the late spring – early summer, the flowers on its florescence are showy, fragrant and the the color of magenta/russet, and less than 1”. The fruit, in the summer, when ripe will have a tropical scent.
- Propagation: By seed.
- Wildlife: Attracts birds and bees. Fruit is edible for birds.
- Facts: This palm is also sometimes called “jelly palm”, its edible yellow fruits/pindo dates mature in summer and can be made into jelly. The fruits can be messy on sidewalks or patios, so you may want to plant it at least ten feet from paved surfaces. This Palm can be seen in more northern states on the East Coast due to their tolerance temperatures down to 5 degrees.
- Designer Considerations: Great as a specimen, lining a walkway, center focus point for circular driveways, an accent in a corner, and anchor plant in a larger garden bed.