Butia capitata
 
Common Names Jelly Palm, Pindo Palm, South American Wine Palm
 
Zones 8B–11
A cold-hardy feather palm native to Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, Butia capitata is beloved for its arching blue-green foliage and sweet, edible fruit. Its stout trunk and weeping crown give it a graceful silhouette, making it a standout in temperate and subtropical landscapes.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Solitary; slow-growing
Height: Typically 10–20 ft (3–6 m); up to 35 ft (10.5 m) in habitat
Trunk: Thick, gray; patterned with persistent leaf bases; up to 18 in (45 cm) diameter
Leaves: Pinnate; 3–6 ft (90–180 cm) long; blue-green to gray-green; arching with 25–60 pairs of slender leaflets
Petiole: Short; spiny margins; leaflets ascend in a V-shape
Inflorescence: Creamy-yellow, fruity-scented flowers on 3 ft (90 cm) spikes; blooms in summer
Fruit: Orange-yellow; date-sized; sweet pulp with pineapple-like flavor; used for jelly and wine
Ecology: Native to subtropical grasslands and dry forests; adapted to sandy and loamy soils
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun to part shade
Watering: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
Soil: Well-drained; prefers sandy or loamy soils
Temperature: Hardy to 14°F (–10°C); thrives in 65–95°F (18–35°C)
Humidity: Moderate; tolerates coastal conditions
Propagation: By seed; germination in spring; slow but reliable
Tolerance: Salt, heat, drought; sensitive to overwatering and trunk rot2
 
Landscape Use Ideal for edible gardens, temperate palm collections, and Mediterranean-style landscapes. Pairs well with Sabal minor, Agave americana, and Chamaerops humilis.