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Palms

Butia yatay

yatay palm

An elegant, single-stemmed palm tree to 10m tall, with strongly arching leaves divided into numerous slender, grey-green leaflets. In summer it produces a long, branched cluster of yellow flowers; these are followed by conical, green to purple fruits. Hardy to around -10°C given a very free-draining soil

Other common names

jelly palm

Synonyms

Cocos yatay

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Ultimate height

8–12 metres

Time to ultimate height

more than 50 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Arecaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: A genus of relatively hardy palms, native to South America, with feathery, grey-green drooping foliage, some grown as stemless plants and others as small trees. Many species of Butia produce edible fruits which can be made into jellies and alcoholic drinks
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Brazil to Argentina

How to grow

Cultivation

Outdoors grow in deep, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Hardiness is dependent on the ground being dry in very cold spells. See palm cultivation outdoors. Under glass grow in loam-based potting compost in bright, filtered light. When in growth, water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly; keep just moist in winter. Pot on or top-dress in spring. See palm cultivation indoors

Propagation

Propagate by seed; germination may be slow and erratic

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Mediterranean climate plants
Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and scale insects when grown under glass

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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