Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm

$270.00

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Size: 30cm

30cm 45L 100L 300L

Current Stock Height Guides

300L: Enquire within for height guide information.

Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 4m to 6m

Mature Width: 3m to 4m

Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm is expected to grow 10cm to 20cm per year (slow).

Root Ball Dimensions

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

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Phone: (03) 7042 3318

About Your New Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm

Butia capitata, the Jelly Palm or Pindo Palm, is a single trunked palm with arching blue grey feather fronds that curve strongly back towards the ground. The stout trunk keeps a pattern of old leaf bases. Summer brings branched cream to yellow flower spikes, followed by orange fruit used for jelly and preserves.

It grows in full sun, tolerates part shade while juvenile, and needs free draining soil, with sandy ground handled easily. Light to moderate frost is taken without damage once established, and mature palms are strongly drought tolerant. Growth is slow at 10 to 20 centimetres a year, so plant close to the size you want.

Use it as a feature palm in open lawn, in groups of three for a subtropical effect, or in avenue and civic planting at about 3 metres apart. The leaf stems carry short spines along their margins, so set it back from narrow paths. Poolside and resort style gardens suit it, and frond litter is minimal.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Jelly Palm

What is Butia capitata?

Butia capitata is a South American feather palm from the family Arecaceae, known in Australia as the Jelly Palm or Pindo Palm. It has a single stout trunk, a crown of thirty to forty arching blue grey fronds, and edible orange fruit. It is one of the hardier ornamental palms grown in Australian gardens.

How big does the Jelly Palm grow?

Mature specimens usually reach 4 to 6 metres tall with a canopy spread of 3 to 4 metres. Because growth is slow, a palm will spend many years well below that height, which is part of its appeal in smaller gardens. Plan the spread carefully, since the fronds arch well out from the trunk.

How fast does it grow?

Slowly. Trunk height increases by around 10 to 20 centimetres a year in good conditions, and it can take a decade or more for a young palm to develop obvious trunk. This is why advanced stock is usually specified where an immediate effect is wanted. The slow rate does mean very low ongoing maintenance.

Is it frost tolerant?

Yes, more so than most ornamental palms. Established plants handle light to moderate frost without damage to the fronds, which allows it to be grown well inland and into cooler temperate districts where a Cocos or Kentia would fail. Young palms in their first couple of winters still benefit from a sheltered position.

Is the fruit edible?

It is. The palm produces clusters of orange yellow fruit in late summer and autumn with a sweet, slightly tart flesh that tastes something like apricot and pineapple. The common name comes from its traditional use in jams and jellies. Fallen fruit can stain paving, so keep that in mind near entertaining areas.

Does it suit coastal or poolside positions?

Yes to both. It tolerates salt laden wind well and grows readily in sandy coastal soils, and the neat crown with limited frond drop makes it a practical choice near pools. Keep it back from the pool edge and from narrow walkways, since the leaf stems carry short spines along their margins.

How do I care for a Jelly Palm?

Water regularly through the first two summers, then only in long dry spells. Remove old brown fronds and spent seed stalks once or twice a year, cutting close to the trunk without cutting into it. A slow release palm fertiliser in spring keeps the frond colour strong. Otherwise it needs very little attention.

Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

Enriched Planting Mix is a certified organic blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent, bagged in 30L. It is built to be dug through existing garden soil at planting time rather than used on its own, and the gypsum is what sets it apart from a plain compost.

Gypsum helps break up heavy clay so water and roots can move through it, while the compost and manure return organic matter and nutrient to tired ground. The coarse bark holds structure and keeps air around the root zone, and the wetting agent keeps moisture in the soil longer after rain or watering.

Use it when planting trees, shrubs, roses, fruit trees and exotic garden plants, particularly into clay. Dig a hole twice the width of the pot and 7 centimetres deeper, then mix roughly one third planting mix through the excavated soil. Spread 7 centimetres of that improved soil in the base before setting the plant in.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Enriched Planting Mix

What is Enriched Planting Mix made from?

It is a blend of Pure Magic Compost, composted animal manure, gypsum, composted coarse bark and a wetting agent. Each part has a job. The compost and manure supply organic matter and nutrient, the gypsum works on clay structure, the bark keeps air around the roots and the wetting agent holds moisture in the soil.

What plants is it suitable for?

It suits exotic garden plants, including roses, ornamental and deciduous trees, fruit trees, shrubs and perennials, and it earns its keep most on heavy clay sites. It is a planting mix rather than a potting mix, so its job is improving soil at planting time. Phosphorus sensitive natives are the one clear exception.

Is it safe for natives?

No, not for the phosphorus sensitive ones. The composted animal manure in this blend lifts phosphorus well above what Proteaceae such as Banksia, Grevillea, Hakea and Protea will tolerate, and the result can be leaf burn, dieback and plant death. Use the Native Potting Mix for those species, or plant them into unimproved local soil.

Is it certified organic?

Yes. It is a certified organic product with no chemical additives, which is why the manure and compost in it are fully composted rather than raw. That makes it sound around fruit trees and vegetable beds, and it means you are adding genuine organic matter to your soil rather than a synthetic conditioner.

How much do I need?

Work on roughly one third planting mix to two thirds of the soil you dug out of the hole. For a shrub out of a 200 millimetre pot that is only a few litres. An advanced tree going into a large hole will take considerably more. Judge the quantity by the volume of the hole rather than the size of the plant.

Can I use it in pots?

It is not a potting mix and should not be used on its own in a container. The blend is designed to be diluted through garden soil, and used straight in a pot it holds too much water and settles badly. For containers, reach for a premium potting mix, or the native mix if you are potting natives.

Does it need to be watered in?

Yes. Water the plant well several hours before you plant it, then water thoroughly again once the hole is backfilled and the soil firmed down. That first deep watering settles the improved soil around the root ball and drives out air pockets. Keep the water up over the first few months while the roots establish.

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Enriched Planting Mix (AO Certified)

$21.95

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Uses in my Garden

Feature Tree
Avenue Planting
Council or Civic Landscapes

Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm works in an:

Mediterranean Style Garden – timeless courtyard look with stone, pots, and bold greenery.
Coastal Garden – relaxed, seaside feel with hardy, textural plants.
Tropical Garden – lush, leafy planting for a resort-style atmosphere.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Edible Garden – integrates fruit, herbs, and productive plants.

Is Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm Evergreen or Deciduous?

Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 4m to 6m

Mature Width: 3m to 4m

Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm is expected to grow 10cm to 20cm per year (slow).

Growth Rate of Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm

Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm is expected to grow 10cm to 20cm per year (slow).

They are considered to have a:

Slow Growth Rate

Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm

Is Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm frost tolerant?

Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm is Frost Tolerant – Can handle light to moderate frost once established.

Does Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm Flower?

Butia capitata produces large, arching sprays of fragrant yellow to cream flowers in late spring and summer. These showy inflorescences sit beneath the graceful blue-green fronds and are followed by clusters of edible orange-yellow fruit, adding seasonal interest.

Does Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm flower?

Yes - Flowers

Flowering Period:

Summer

Flower Type:

Clustered

Flower Colour:

Yellow

Is Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm an Australian Native Tree?

No

Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm is Native to South America, particularly Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, where it grows in open grasslands and dry savannahs.

What is the Wildlife Value of Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm ?

Its flowers attract bees and other pollinating insects, while the fleshy fruit provides food for birds and wildlife. The arching fronds also offer shelter and roosting space for small birds, contributing to a biodiverse and resilient garden ecosystem.

How much Sunlight does Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm need?

Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm will thrive best in:

Full Sun
Part Shade

Preferred Soil?

Butia capitata performs best in well-drained sandy or loam soils and prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions. It is sensitive to poor drainage and may struggle in heavy clay unless significantly improved with organic matter and coarse material to enhance aeration. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then transition to deep, occasional watering as the palm matures and develops excellent drought resilience.

Is Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm Drought Tolerant?

Is Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm Drought tolerant?

As a young plant it requires regular watering, but once established Butia capitata develops strong drought tolerance. It thrives in hot, dry conditions and coastal environments, maintaining its robust trunk and elegant fronds with minimal supplementary watering.

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How To Plant Your Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm

Site: Choose a well-drained position in full sun to part shade with room for the canopy to develop.

Soil preparation: Enrich the planting area with quality compost and aged manure for a strong establishment phase.

Hole: Dig twice as wide as the root ball and the same depth.

Planting: Position level with the surrounding soil, backfill gently, firm in, then water deeply to settle the roots.

Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm

Feature tree: 3 to 4 metres apart to allow the full canopy and form to develop.

Avenue planting: 3 metres apart for a uniform soft-textured avenue.

Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm is expected to grow 10cm to 20cm per year (slow).

Slow Growth Rate

Long Term Care For Your Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm

Watering: Water deeply twice weekly through the first 12 months. Once established, keep the root zone consistently moist with weekly deep watering and additional water during hot dry spells.

Mulching: Apply a 5 to 7 centimetre layer of organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it 5 centimetres clear of the trunk.

Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Light tip prune in late winter to maintain shape, and remove lower branches as the tree grows to develop a clean feature trunk.

Fertilising: Apply a slow-release general-purpose fertiliser in early spring and again in autumn for steady growth and consistent foliage colour.

Pest and disease: Hardy against most pests and diseases. Occasional inspection for scale or sooty mould in warm humid conditions is all that's needed.

Planting Your Butia capitata – Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm in Different Soil

Butia capitata performs best in rich, well-drained loam with a slightly acidic pH and consistent moisture. Adaptable to a wide range of soils when drainage and organic matter are managed well.

Sandy soil: Free-draining but enrich heavily with compost and mulch deeply to hold moisture.

Clay soil: Improve drainage with gypsum and organic compost, and mound slightly to lift the root zone.

Loam: The preferred soil for steady root development and consistent flowering.

pH: Slightly acidic preferred. Mulch with composted leaf litter or pine bark to maintain levels naturally.