Butia odorata

jelly palm
Jelly palm perfect in a pot, great by the sea, thrives inland too. Modest size. Takes shade or sun, and wind, regular irrigation, or minimal water. Tasty fruit.
Butia odorataButia odorataButia odorata
height 20–30ft
width 15–20ft
tolerates Coast, Cold, Cool Summers, Drought, Deer , Fog, Heat, Pots, Rooftops, Neglect, Salt, Wind
water
needs		 Low – Moderate
water
info		 Not all palms love water! This one is actually drought-tolerant and can live quite happily on little or no water once it’s established, though it’ll grow more slowly and may not look as lush. To keep your palm looking its best, be sure to water it consistently and deeply while it’s getting established, then after a few years give it a good deep soaking every couple of weeks. It will also be happy to have more water, provided the soil drainage is adequate.
hardy
to		 15F
exposure Full Shade – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing Palm Fertilizer
origin S Brazil
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 7–9, 11–23

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

OUTDOOR EXPOSURE GUIDE

Full Sun
Six or more hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Shade
Three to five hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Sun
One to two hours of sun beams directly landing on the plants leaves.

Full Shade
The plant is never fully lit by sun beams, but is in a bright spot or has dappled sunbeams playing over the leaves throughout the day.

Deep Shade
The plant never has dappled light on the leaves, and is in a place that feels dim, even on a nice sunny day.

SUNSET ZONES MAP

Growing Notes

This solitary palm will grow only one trunk during its lifetime. If you have a pot with multiple trunks in it, that’s because multiple separate palm trees were germinated in the pot. The good news is that you won’t need to thin out suckers over time to maintain the number of trunks you started out with.
This palm holds its leaves for a long time, creating a loose beard or skirt on the trunk. If you want, you can always prune off the beard for a cleaner look. If fire retardance is a consideration the beard should be removed annually.
With regularly curved, keeled fronds, this feather palm has an elegant look.
Palms are generally heavy feeders, so if you want them growing quickly and looking their best, they should be fertilized at least three times a year. Fertilizing at spring equinox, summer solstice and fall equinox will allow for a winter rest. Be sure to feed your palm with a fertilizer that contains micronutrients, especially if you see yellowing leaves or yellow spots on the leaves.

Special Interest

Edible fruit tastes like fibrous loquat. Fruit only ripens in areas with warm summers.

This palm contributes to the oasis-style garden, especially when it’s mixed with cactus and other drought-tolerant plants like euphorbias. It also makes an unusual and yet compelling addition to the Mediterranean garden when mixed with lavender, rosemary, and olives.