Butia capitata var. odorata - T60

About the Butia capitata var. odorata - T60

Butia capitata var. odorata, now botanically accepted as Butia odorata, is a slow-growing evergreen pinnate palm with gracefully arching fronds that eventually form a full, rounded crown. Depending on the amount of sunlight, the foliage ranges from blue-green to distinctly silver-grey. Mature specimens develop a sturdy single trunk with prominent old leaf bases.

The product size Tray 60 represents the seedling stage. These seedlings are intended for growing on and require even watering, an airy substrate and protection from frost because of their limited root volume.

Characteristics

Origin: Butia capitata var. odorata is native to southern Brazil, particularly Rio Grande do Sul, and Uruguay. It grows there in subtropical regions with warm summers and noticeably cooler winters.

Family: The species belongs to the palm family Arecaceae and the genus Butia. The commercial name Butia capitata var. odorata is a botanical synonym; the accepted name is Butia odorata.

Position: Place the seedlings in a bright to sunny position. Gradually acclimatise them to direct sunlight after sheltered greenhouse or indoor cultivation. Protect the tray from cold winds and prolonged rainfall.

Height: Mature specimens can reach approximately 4.5 to 6 metres under favourable conditions and develop a broad crown. No exact current height is assumed for the Tray 60 seedlings. Their development depends on the cultivation period, available root space and care.

Flowering period: Sufficiently developed specimens may flower in spring. The flowers appear on large, branched inflorescences between the fronds. The current seedlings have not yet reached the flowering stage.

Flower colour: The small flowers of mature specimens are creamy white to pale cream. The inflorescences carry separate male and female flowers and may attract pollinating insects.

Hardiness: Mature Butia odorata is among the more cold-tolerant pinnate palms. Seedlings in Tray 60 have very little insulating substrate around their roots and are therefore considerably more vulnerable to frost. Protect this product size from 0 °C and do not allow the tray to freeze.

Soil type: Use an airy, fertile and very well-drained seedling or palm substrate. The mixture should retain sufficient moisture to prevent the small root balls from drying out while allowing excess water to drain quickly. Heavy or continuously wet soil is unsuitable.

Care

Light: Provide abundant light and gradually acclimatise the seedlings to full sun. After sheltered cultivation, begin with gentle morning or evening sunlight and increase exposure step by step. Sudden intense midday sunlight may damage the young foliage.

Water: Check the substrate regularly because the small tray cells dry more quickly than a larger pot. Keep the root balls evenly lightly moist but never waterlogged. Prevent both complete drying and standing water underneath the tray.

Feeding: Begin feeding carefully only after the seedlings are well rooted and showing active new growth. Use a suitable palm or seedling fertiliser at a light dosage. Excess fertiliser may damage young roots, while no feeding is required during winter dormancy.

Pruning: Seedlings do not require pruning. Remove only completely dead or damaged foliage and always leave the central growing point intact. Do not pull damaged leaves away, as this may injure the young plant.

Repotting: Pot the seedlings individually once the roots hold the substrate together or have clearly filled the tray cell. Use a suitably small pot with drainage holes and keep the root ball as intact as possible during transfer. Do not place the seedlings immediately into excessively large pots.

Humidity: Average humidity is suitable. A stable environment during the initial growing stage helps limit rapid drying, but adequate air circulation remains essential. Constantly enclosed or excessively wet conditions increase the risk of fungal and root problems.

Special features: Tray 60 is a fixed seedling or tray size and may therefore be described as a seedling stage. The short spines near the petiole bases and the sturdy trunk become more apparent as the palm develops. Mature specimens may produce fragrant flowers followed by aromatic yellow-orange fruit. The fruit is edible and is traditionally used for products such as jelly. Flowering and fruiting do not apply to these seedlings and are not guaranteed.