The Pindo Palm - Butia capitata [BEW-tee-uh, kap-ih-TAY-tuh] has a low, thick trunk and is a stocky perennial palm tree with enormous tolerance for cold temperatures. The Butia capitata is known as one of the best winter-hardy palms.
This member of the Arecaceae family originally comes from Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil.
The butia capitata is also called the Pindo Palm or Jelly Palm.
This second common name refers to the fact that the plant produces large amounts of edible dates (fruit) often used to make jelly.
The Pindo Palm is a slow-growing palm that takes years to reach a height of 3 to 6 meters.
Therefore, when purchasing your Butia capitata palm trees, look for those that have been in stock at the nursery for at least three.
This way you start with a bit of height. The leaf of the Pindo Palm is very attractive. The blue-gray, feathered leaves grow in gentle curves and can reach almost 2 meters long.
The fragrant flowers appear in spring and can be white, yellow, or red.
They grow in groups of three consisting of one female flower and two male flowers.
As summer progresses, the flowers turn into tasty yellow, orange, or reddish-brown fruits that attract wildlife and are useful for people.
Unfortunately, they are also quite messy because they scatter sticky, gooey clumps on the ground around the tree.
For this reason, you should plant your Jelly Palm away from decks, walkways, streets, and other places where fallen fruit can definitely cause problems.
These compact palm trees do very well in partial shade to full sun.
They can tolerate temperatures down to -15°C and are often seen growing along the east coast of the United States up to North Carolina. They are hardy in USDA zones 8 through 11.
Like most palms, the Pindo Palm does not like to stand in water.
Wait until the top 7.5 cm of soil around the tree is dry, then water slowly and deeply. This saturates the soil with water to a minimum depth of 60 cm.
It is often good to place a "soaker hose" in a circle around the tree to thoroughly soak the soil without wetting the tree trunk.
Too much moisture in the soil or on the trunk can cause trunk and root rot.
Alternatively (or additionally), dig a small trench around the tree to use as an irrigation ditch.
Fertilize your Pindo Palm (Butia Capitata) four times a year.
Use a specialized palm fertilizer rich in micronutrients with an NPK ratio of 8 – 4 – 12.
Use granular fertilizer and spread it evenly over the soil under the tree’s canopy.
Water the tree deeply immediately to prevent the fertilizer from burning the roots.
Read the instructions on the fertilizer packaging very carefully and follow them precisely.
The Jelly Palm tolerates all soil types as long as they are well-draining. These palms prefer a neutral pH.
As mentioned, place your palm tree at least 3 meters away from anything you don’t want to be littered with sticky fruit.
It is best to transplant Pindo Palm seedlings in spring or early summer.
Dig a hole twice as large as the root ball.
It should be exactly the right depth to match the depth at which the plant was grown.
Place the seedling in the center of the hole and fill the hole with the surrounding soil.
Measure the diameter of the tree trunk and add a few ounces of palm tree fertilizer to the soil for every centimeter.
Water daily for the coming weeks.
Gradually reduce watering over several months, but never let the soil dry out completely.
Your new Pindo Palm should be fairly drought tolerant after a few years.
Pindo Palms (Butia Capitata) need regular pruning to look neat because they do not shed their dead leaves. Once the leaves die, you should prune them.
Avoid pruning healthy green leaves, as this causes stress to the tree.
It is especially stressful to remove green leaves that point upwards or grow horizontally.
Spray your Butia Capitata palm tree well and regularly with water during the hot, dry summer months.
This will help remove grit, sand, and dust that accumulates on the stems and leaves.
Keeping the leaves clean supports efficient photosynthesis.
Occasional spraying also helps to keep annoying insects, such as mites, off the foliage.
Grow your own Pindo palm (Butia capitata) by collecting the ripe fruit when it falls to the ground, removing the pits, and breaking them open to expose the Butia capitata seed.
Keep the potting mix moist during the germination process by spraying with filtered water or rainwater as needed. The growing medium should always feel just slightly damp.
Diseases and pests are usually not a problem for Jelly Palms.
Overwatering can cause root and trunk rot.
Compromised palm trees can be subject to attacks by mites, scales, and possibly other insects. But a well-cared-for tree will not attract these pests.
Be very attentive to the nutritional needs of your palm tree.
Micronutrient deficiencies can cause problems in Pindo Palms.
Don’t forget to fertilize regularly and avoid keeping the tree in soil with a high pH. A too high pH tends to only worsen the problem.
There is nothing toxic about these palm trees.
The fruits are edible and tasty and are very attractive to squirrels and other tree-dwelling mammals.
These slow-growing, elegant palms do well individually as ornamental plants.
Their medium size makes them a good choice for smaller gardens and courtyards.
Because they withstand strong winds, air pollution, and several other negative effects, they are often chosen for planting along highway medians.
The Pindo Palm (Butia capitata) is also a new addition to a natural garden.
The sweet, abundant fruit of the Butia Capitata attracts a wide variety of native wildlife. The light yellow, orange, or reddish-brown fruit is very useful on its own.
Jelly is made from the pulp of the Butia Capitata, and the seeds are roasted and used as a coffee substitute.
Check the shop and easily order a few fresh Butia Capitata seeds to grow them yourself in just a few steps. You will also receive the free growing instructions.
View available seedsComments will be approved before showing up.
The Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ is a fast grower with a tropical look that prefers a warm, bright, and sheltered spot. In this blog, you’ll learn how to care for this red banana plant, what to expect each season, and how to keep it healthy from a young plant to a large eye-catcher.
The Musa velutina, also known as the pink banana plant, is a tropical plant that stands out due to its unique appearance and rapid growth with proper care. In this blog, you will learn how to keep it healthy with the right location, watering, potting soil, and nutrition. Additionally, you will discover what to expect throughout the year, from active growth in spring and summer to a quieter phase in autumn and winter. Repotting, leaf care, winter care, and the development from a young plant to a larger Musa velutina are also covered.
Succulents are hardy, stylish, and surprisingly easy – as long as you care for them properly. In this blog, you’ll discover the 10 most frequently asked questions about succulents, from watering and light to feeding and winter dormancy. You’ll learn why less is more, how to prevent overwatering, and which succulents are perfect for both beginners and collectors. Ideal for anyone who wants to keep their succulent healthy without stress or guesswork.
