Butia odorata

This palm was formerly classified as Butia capitata var odorata. Many experts consider it a separate species, and having seen the palm growing in the wild I can only agree! It could not be more different.

The palm is small compared to the 'normal' Butia capita. It is native to Southern Brazil and named locally Butia de bahia (Butia of the beach) . The trunk rarely exceeds 15cm(6") in width and 3m (6 feet) in height. The span rarely exceeds 2 metres (6 feet).

The Butia odorata is considerably hardy, and extremely beautiful! It is extremely hard to understand why this palm is not in cultivation. Itgrows by the million in parts of Southern Brazil, and every house seems to have a palm in the front garden as it is small and decorative with beautiful blue/silvery leaves and never gets too large. It will make the perfect palm for the small European garden and seems destined for a successful introduction into general cultivation.

Palms are available from seedlings to total height to mature fully grown specimens with 3m trunks.




Click to enlarge/more photos