About
This palm features elongated, gracefully arching leaves that exhibit a grey-green hue. It shows resilience to cold and damp environments, making it suitable as a specimen plant in temperate regions. However, in locations subject to severe winter conditions, it will need some form of protection.
About the genus
This genus comprises robust palms from South America, characterized by their arching, grey-green leaves that often droop. Some species are cultivated as stemless varieties, while others develop into small trees. Numerous Butia species bear edible fruits that can be processed into jellies and alcoholic beverages.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand, Chalk, Clay
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Palms
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 4-8 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- Architectural, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Mediterranean climate plants, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical
- Native to
- Brazil to Uruguay
Care notes
- Cultivation
- If growing in pots, use a peat-free, loam-based compost and position in full sun. Water freely in summer and apply a balanced liquid feed weekly. In very cold areas the pots should be moved to a sheltered corner or greennhouse over winter. In milder areas plant into the ground in spring, selecting a sheltered site where the ground does not become waterlogged. See palm cultivation outdoors for further information
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by sowing seed at 25°C in spring
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to red spider mite and scale insects if grown under glass
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free