Butia capitata

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:05 am

Oddly enough, there's never very much posted about Butia capitata. So here's mine after a spear pull in the spring of '07. The previous autumn we had an unexpected cold spell and snow fall. I neglected to tuck some burlap into the growth point which would have save the spear. Oh well, lesson learned. It's rebounded nicely though and is standing at 7' tall in my southwest facing garden. These are quite resilient and stately with their recurved fronds.

Cheers, Barrie.

Overview

Closer shot of the crown

PhilMusa · Post by **PhilMusa** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 6:17 pm

Nice palm Barrie, very majestic!

Laaz · Post by **Laaz** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:05 am

Great job. Looks great after the damage it had !

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:30 am

the butia is certainly in my top 5 favorite palms. I have several from 1 to 5 gallon size. I'd love to plant one in ground and protect it all winter (I'm zone 6, down to around 0F , -17C) but I am still learning the ropes as far as outdoor winter protection goes. Nice work on your palm Barrie, it looks great.

Dean W. · Post by **Dean W.** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:31 am

Nice palm, Barrie! Your right their not discussed much here.

Dean

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:07 pm

Lovely, Barrie, I can see why these are among people's favs.

Nice colour and texture in your planting bed.

I was under the impression spear pull meant certain death...(thinking about my Licuala grandis

)
Glad your great specimen pulled through.

Barb

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:35 am

lucky1 wrote:I was under the impression spear pull meant certain death.

Not really. Once spear rot sets in, the race is on. New growth has to out pace the damaged spears. Some palms are better suited to recovery than others.

Cheers, Barrie.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:00 am

Barrie,
Good explanation. Thanks.
Barb

Okanagan desert-palms · Post by **Okanagan desert-palms** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:50 pm

Barrie excellent recovery for your B. capitata. Seems to have gone into overdrive.Is that all new growth from the shortened fronds half way up from the spear pull.

John

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 6:58 pm

Yes John, all new growth. Last year was a bit of a write off really with the lousy summer we had. This year however has been a make up year. The best year this Butia has had was 11 new fronds in one season, 2005 I believe.
Do you have any Butia capitata?

Cheers, Barrie.

Okanagan desert-palms · Post by **Okanagan desert-palms** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:24 pm

Barrie I have 2 boxed Butia cap`s that really need to be transplanted to get some better growth. 2 15 gal Butia`s that are outpacing the larger ones because they were transplanted this spring. I`ve got to find a hoist to transplant the larger boxed ones next year. I have several Butia eriospatha 3 gal doing well. Will post some pics soon.

John

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:59 pm

Butia eriospatha are reported to be somewhat more cold tollerent than B. capitata. No one here has been able to challenge that theory or put it to the test.

Cheers, Barrie.

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:30 am

Update

A couple of new pics taken today (Jan 23-09) of my Butia capitata. I has weathered the worst since I've owned it and has come out on top again. I did use burlap tucked into the crown for insulation during bad weather, that's it though. I'm waiting for it to flower, hopefully this year.

Cheers, Barrie.

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 10:54 am

Barrie,
Great pics of a palm that is under used on our West Coast. Maybe not completely hardy until established?
I recall seeing pics of one planted by the shore in Downtown Van (English bay)... Apparently it has not survived since I did not see it his past spring when I was there!
Again, great specimen! Glad it took the recent cold in stride.

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:36 pm

Paul ... I somehow believe Butia capitata will only be completely hardy here in the mildest regions. They need temps to rebound much quicker than it did in late Dec and early January. When I left it unattended a couple years ago, snow in the crown damaged the central growth and had to regrow an entirely new set of fronds. Hardy yes ... but looking good all the time, no ... unless as I've said, in the mildest favored locations. So for the average gardener an easy palm if you're around and remember to tuck some dry burlap into the crown during bad weather.

Cheers, Barrie.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:06 pm

That did recover completely and beautifully, Barrie.

A hoist, John? A team of oxen might be able to move your Butia...
Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:42 pm

Barrie,beautiful palm! I have a B.eriospatha that I am planting this spring,how old is your Butia?

Okanagan desert-palms · Post by **Okanagan desert-palms** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:18 am

Barrie glad your Butia C is well after our record cold snap. Barb I hope my neighbor gets his loader fixed so I dont have to lift my butias out with the engine hoist to plant this year.

John

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 7:31 am

John, yup, it's the only way you'll move those big palms...mine are one-third the size of yours.

Barb

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:37 am

hardyjim wrote:how old is your Butia?

I've owned it for ten years, purchased as a 15 gallon specimen. How old is anyones guess really.

Cheers, Barrie.

limoncik · Post by **limoncik** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:08 pm

A large palm tree!

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