Butia x Cocos nucifera

[Nigel]

How are you guys who made seeds doing ? Are they germinating ? Is there still just one confirmed plant in existence ?

I am going to try again.... I now have lots of cocos pollen to play with....

[Steve the palmreader]

I would recomend using Syagrus Rom pollen on the Cocos It seems to be more potent. Good Luck Steve

[Zeeth]

I too would like to hear the progress of this hybrid. Supposedly freakypalmguy got some sprouts last I heard. This would be a palm that I think would go for quite a pretty penny.

Also of note, there's a Elaeis X Cocos in a botanical garden (in singapore I think). Supposedly it's kind of ugly though

[PalmGuyWC]

Nigel,

I think there are several Cocos hybrids "in the works," but none 100% absolutely confirmed yet. When we see pinnate fronds, then we should know.

Dick

[The-ZonePusher]

Nigel,

I think there are several Cocos hybrids "in the works," but none 100% absolutely confirmed yet. When we see pinnate fronds, then we should know.

Dick

It would be interesting to see, too bad they probably can't reproduce.

Edited September 2, 2010 by The-ZonePusher

[Alberto]

I´m doubtful about all this suposed hybrids between Butia and Cocos.

It´s so easy to produce pure Butias if you do not avoid any contamination with Butia pollen......

I´s easy to shake some cocos pollen on an Butia inflorescence that shows flowers with anthesis,and think that the resulting seeds are hybrids.

The suposed accidental hybrid from Mark Heath ,is a good candidate for a real hybrid...but it can also be a freak Butiagrus (spicata form on this hybrid???).... time will tell!

Spicata Mule:

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=24062&st=0&p=401320&hl=cocos&fromsearch=1&#entry401320

[edbrown_III]

I have tried it about 10x over the rrlast five years ---no sucess-- it might be one of those 1% sucess stories --- enough folks have to keep trying enough times ---- sort of the Babe Ruth example --- he struck oout the most but had the most homeruns --- (this was before steroids )

Mark has the closest thing to any hybrid that looks coconuty so far.

It took Charles Raulerson many times to get the F2

Patrick certainly took many years to develop his technque.

I say this after coming in from the garden with handfuls of Butia x cearensis seeds ---

Was I sucessfull--- I dont know --- Now I have to go through the lot to see if any are enlarged sufficiently to have embryo's and waiting until the seedlings show promising characteristics.

Best regards

Ed

[freakypalmguy]

I have 12 seedlings off my Butia that I dusted with Cocos pollen. I was extremely careful, covering the clean inflorescene with a hypoallergenic pillow case, only uncovering to pollinate, then immediately recovereing. Ants are a possible contaminator though. I'm not convinced either with all the failed attempts.

Only time will tell........

[tank]

How $$ much for a genetic paternity test?

[Nigel]

I´m doubtful about all this suposed hybrids between Butia and Cocos.

Me too......... but who would have thought Butia x parajubaea ????

[merrillwx]

Hi, I wish you guys the very best on Butia X Cocos; I failed in many attempts and would urge all to try both reciprocals [as did I!] . I also failed in many attempts in B. yatay X queen, but there are a very, very small number of yatay X Queen volunteers in the wild.

Ed, please keep us informed about the X cearensis cross, and the best of luck!

[Walter John]

Does anyone grow real Butias ? let's see some pics before they're all hybridised out by the frankensteins.

[merrillwx]

Hi, Wal:

The mixed Butia is actually quite rare around here; the VAST majority are simply what used to be known as B. capitata. I'm asking my friends who are capable of posting to show a variety of ordinary local Butia [capitata/]. I'm not equipped.

Best Wishes,

merrill

[Alberto]

I´m doubtful about all this suposed hybrids between Butia and Cocos.

Me too......... but who would have thought Butia x parajubaea ????

Parajubaeas are closer to Cocos than Butias......maybe in future i can cross my P.sunkha with Cocos nucifera....

[Mike Evans]

I was not going to post pics of this until it got more mature, but a good thread has started. I got this from a recluse palm guy that has perfected hybridizing Butyagrus nabonnandii. I visited his operation & saw for myself, his great success. He has the art truly perfected. While looking around I noticed a few set aside with cocos tag. I asked about these & was told these are something special, Butia x Cocos nucifera. I tried to get one from him the entire day w/o any luck. Our next visit, months later, he graciously gave me one. It was close to dying & I proudly accepted. That was ~ 10 months ago & here is a pic of it now. I can only hope it turns out to be true. Too early to tell. Yes, he stated it was painful to produce.

[Alberto]

Looks very healthy!!!

I really hope it is a hybrid!!!!

[Zeeth]

Woah! Cross your fingers that it's a hybrid.

[ErikSJI]

I was not going to post pics of this until it got more mature, but a good thread has started. I got this from a recluse palm guy that has perfected hybridizing Butyagrus nabonnandii. I visited his operation & saw for myself, his great success. He has the art truly perfected. While looking around I noticed a few set aside with cocos tag. I asked about these & was told these are something special, Butia x Cocos nucifera. I tried to get one from him the entire day w/o any luck. Our next visit, months later, he graciously gave me one. It was close to dying & I proudly accepted. That was ~ 10 months ago & here is a pic of it now. I can only hope it turns out to be true. Too early to tell. Yes, he stated it was painful to produce.

I am glad you posted photos of this Mike. We were wondering how long it would take. Here is a photo of one of the brothers of your plant. It is indeed a Butia X Cocos and would be willing to sacrifice mine for testing. This one has been growing in the pacific northwest and is growing quite slowly. I thought it was going to die at first but now it is pulling through. The pollinator you speak of is back at it again. I had requested Cocos pollen on many occasions on this board but have not had any luck. Last batch of pollen came from Florida. We are heading to Hawaii the end of the month to try to get more on vacation.

Mark has been doing this for a long time. There is no question as to what it is. Butia C. X Syagrus R.

The more pollen we can get the more of these that will be out there.

Erik

[Zeeth]

Erik, I just located 3 coconuts (2 of which are still short enough to climb safely) which are within walking distance from my dorm. They are still showing cold damage from the past winter (they're right on the Sarasota bay too, which just shows how bad the winter was), but once they start sending out spathes I'll shake them for all the pollen I can get.

[ErikSJI]

Erik, I just located 3 coconuts (2 of which are still short enough to climb safely) which are within walking distance from my dorm. They are still showing cold damage from the past winter (they're right on the Sarasota bay too, which just shows how bad the winter was), but once they start sending out spathes I'll shake them for all the pollen I can get.

Zeeth I would prefer you did not shake them. Just give me a heads up and Mark will come out and cut them himself. He is willing to travel for it.

Erik

[Zeeth]

Erik, I just located 3 coconuts (2 of which are still short enough to climb safely) which are within walking distance from my dorm. They are still showing cold damage from the past winter (they're right on the Sarasota bay too, which just shows how bad the winter was), but once they start sending out spathes I'll shake them for all the pollen I can get.

Zeeth I would prefer you did not shake them. Just give me a heads up and Mark will come out and cut them himself. He is willing to travel for it.

Erik

Alright, will do

[ErikSJI]

Erik, I just located 3 coconuts (2 of which are still short enough to climb safely) which are within walking distance from my dorm. They are still showing cold damage from the past winter (they're right on the Sarasota bay too, which just shows how bad the winter was), but once they start sending out spathes I'll shake them for all the pollen I can get.

Zeeth I would prefer you did not shake them. Just give me a heads up and Mark will come out and cut them himself. He is willing to travel for it.

Erik

Alright, will do

Thanks.

[ErikSJI]

Erik, I just located 3 coconuts (2 of which are still short enough to climb safely) which are within walking distance from my dorm. They are still showing cold damage from the past winter (they're right on the Sarasota bay too, which just shows how bad the winter was), but once they start sending out spathes I'll shake them for all the pollen I can get.

Zeeth I would prefer you did not shake them. Just give me a heads up and Mark will come out and cut them himself. He is willing to travel for it.

Erik

Alright, will do

Thanks.

And you will be first on the list to receive one Butia x Cocos seedling. However we need much more pollen then 3 trees can produce as it is a very difficult task to pull of like Mike said. So if there are any others out there that can provide. Let me know.

[ErikSJI]

I´m doubtful about all this suposed hybrids between Butia and Cocos.

It´s so easy to produce pure Butias if you do not avoid any contamination with Butia pollen......

I´s easy to shake some cocos pollen on an Butia inflorescence that shows flowers with anthesis,and think that the resulting seeds are hybrids.

The suposed accidental hybrid from Mark Heath ,is a good candidate for a real hybrid...but it can also be a freak Butiagrus (spicata form on this hybrid???).... time will tell!

Spicata Mule:

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=24062&st=0&p=401320&hl=cocos&fromsearch=1&#entry401320

You should be using isolation bags on your trees. If you bag the whole tree there is no question as to what the hybrid is.

[ErikSJI]

Hi, Wal:

The mixed Butia is actually quite rare around here; the VAST majority are simply what used to be known as B. capitata. I'm asking my friends who are capable of posting to show a variety of ordinary local Butia [capitata/]. I'm not equipped.

Best Wishes,

merrill

I can only show you photos of fields of container grown in florida.

[freakypalmguy]

I was not going to post pics of this until it got more mature, but a good thread has started. I got this from a recluse palm guy that has perfected hybridizing Butyagrus nabonnandii. I visited his operation & saw for myself, his great success. He has the art truly perfected. While looking around I noticed a few set aside with cocos tag. I asked about these & was told these are something special, Butia x Cocos nucifera. I tried to get one from him the entire day w/o any luck. Our next visit, months later, he graciously gave me one. It was close to dying & I proudly accepted. That was ~ 10 months ago & here is a pic of it now. I can only hope it turns out to be true. Too early to tell. Yes, he stated it was painful to produce.

Very cool Mike, I'm glad you posted it and really look forward to seeing your plants progress. I've planted a couple of my seedlings in the ground already in hopes of getting even better growth. Mine are still only on their second leaf so they are tiny and not really worth posting pics of.

Matt

[freakypalmguy]

I am glad you posted photos of this Mike. We were wondering how long it would take. Here is a photo of one of the brothers of your plant. It is indeed a Butia X Cocos and would be willing to sacrifice mine for testing. This one has been growing in the pacific northwest and is growing quite slowly. I thought it was going to die at first but now it is pulling through. The pollinator you speak of is back at it again. I had requested Cocos pollen on many occasions on this board but have not had any luck. Last batch of pollen came from Florida. We are heading to Hawaii the end of the month to try to get more on vacation.

Mark has been doing this for a long time. There is no question as to what it is. Butia C. X Syagrus R.

The more pollen we can get the more of these that will be out there.

Erik

Don't do it Erik I'm glad to see your plant pulled through.

[Mark Heath]

Update! I have germination of BXC. A long wait for sure. I had them in my hot house and last year the sprayer that was above the pot was faultering and the medium dried out. I moved them to a better area but now they need full sun, they have been in a semi-dark area since germination.

I hope they turn out to be the real deal! Time will tell.

Spidey Matt germinated his quickly!

Also, at the time i produced the seeds i had only two flowering Butias here on my property, and i live in the boondocks where there is only one other mature Butia within miles of me.

I remove the spathes on the Butia that i don't use for hybridization.

[Mark Heath]

Also, here is the pollen donor.

I had many people request pollen from me but i harvested pollen from only one of the two flowering Cocos that i had here, so there was none to share. I let the other whopper produce coconuts.

The three Cocos are gone due to the harsh winter we had, so if i want Cocos pollen again,

I'll have to travel!

[freakypalmguy]

Update! I have germination of BXC. A long wait for sure. I had them in my hot house and last year the sprayer that was above the pot was faultering and the medium dried out. I moved them to a better area but now they need full sun, they have been in a semi-dark area since germination.

I hope they turn out to be the real deal! Time will tell.

Spidey Matt germinated his quickly!

Also, at the time i produced the seeds i had only two flowering Butias here on my property, and i live in the boondocks where there is only one other mature Butia within miles of me.

I remove the spathes on the Butia that i don't use for hybridization.

Excellent bud, that is some really good news. I used supplemental heat to germinate mine. Now we get to wait and grow them up for a couple to see what we've got.

[Zeeth]

Update! I have germination of BXC. A long wait for sure. I had them in my hot house and last year the sprayer that was above the pot was faultering and the medium dried out. I moved them to a better area but now they need full sun, they have been in a semi-dark area since germination.

I hope they turn out to be the real deal! Time will tell.

Spidey Matt germinated his quickly!

Also, at the time i produced the seeds i had only two flowering Butias here on my property, and i live in the boondocks where there is only one other mature Butia within miles of me.

I remove the spathes on the Butia that i don't use for hybridization.

Huzzah! What exactly will be the tell tale sign that they are part coconut? I have so many questions about this hybrid, but there are no mature ones out there! They seem to all be pretty slow from what I've heard, which is quite a surprise (seeing as how fast the coconut grows, and the whole hybrid vigor thing). Maybe they'll speed up once they form some trunk...

[ErikSJI]

Looking good Mark.

[freakypalmguy]

Hi Zeeth,

I wouldn't say my seedlings are slow, two leaves, and some going on a third in six months from germination.

Alberto,

Out of curiousity, with all the hybridizing you do, what method do you use to protect from contamination? What do you think of my method?

Matt

[Zeeth]

Hi Zeeth,

I wouldn't say my seedlings are slow, two leaves, and some going on a third in six months from germination.

Alberto,

Out of curiousity, with all the hybridizing you do, what method do you use to protect from contamination? What do you think of my method?

Matt

That's good to know. Have you grown any XButiagrus that you would be able to compare the speed to?

[Mark Heath]

Update! I have germination of BXC. A long wait for sure. I had them in my hot house and last year the sprayer that was above the pot was faultering and the medium dried out. I moved them to a better area but now they need full sun, they have been in a semi-dark area since germination.

I hope they turn out to be the real deal! Time will tell.

Spidey Matt germinated his quickly!

Also, at the time i produced the seeds i had only two flowering Butias here on my property, and i live in the boondocks where there is only one other mature Butia within miles of me.

I remove the spathes on the Butia that i don't use for hybridization.

Huzzah! What exactly will be the tell tale sign that they are part coconut? I have so many questions about this hybrid, but there are no mature ones out there! They seem to all be pretty slow from what I've heard, which is quite a surprise (seeing as how fast the coconut grows, and the whole hybrid vigor thing). Maybe they'll speed up once they form some trunk...

What i will be looking for is wider leaflets when young. My seedlings look just like Butia seedlings so far, so i will put them in full sun and see what happens. I can ID XButyagrus seedlings pretty early, by the forth leaf the leaves are getting wider than a pure Butia would be.

I like the look of the other seedlings that Erik and Spidey-Matt have, they are looking like the real deal so far!

Also, pure Butia go pinnate early, one gallon size. While a XButyagrus waits untill 2-3 gallon, and a BXC should do the same.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for everybody!

[Mark Heath]

Update! I have germination of BXC. A long wait for sure. I had them in my hot house and last year the sprayer that was above the pot was faultering and the medium dried out. I moved them to a better area but now they need full sun, they have been in a semi-dark area since germination.

I hope they turn out to be the real deal! Time will tell.

Spidey Matt germinated his quickly!

Also, at the time i produced the seeds i had only two flowering Butias here on my property, and i live in the boondocks where there is only one other mature Butia within miles of me.

I remove the spathes on the Butia that i don't use for hybridization.

Huzzah! What exactly will be the tell tale sign that they are part coconut? I have so many questions about this hybrid, but there are no mature ones out there! They seem to all be pretty slow from what I've heard, which is quite a surprise (seeing as how fast the coconut grows, and the whole hybrid vigor thing). Maybe they'll speed up once they form some trunk...

What i will be looking for is wider leaflets when young. My seedlings look just like Butia seedlings so far, so i will put them in full sun and see what happens. I can ID XButyagrus seedlings pretty early, by the forth leaf the leaves are getting wider than a pure Butia would be.

I like the look of the other seedlings that Erik and Spidey-Matt have, they are looking like the real deal so far!

Also, pure Butia go pinnate early, one gallon size. While a XButyagrus waits untill 2-3 gallon, and a BXC should do the same.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for everybody!

[kelen]

My dream is Syagrus romanzoffiana x Attalea dubia, is it possible?

[ErikSJI]

My dream is Syagrus romanzoffiana x Attalea dubia, is it possible?

Update.

Mark Lynn from Mule Palm Nursery is reporting outstanding results in his pollination efforts this time around on the Butia X Cocos. We should be seeing a lot more of these soon. I am heading to Hawaii at the end of the month to collect more pollen.

Erik

[Zeeth]

My dream is Syagrus romanzoffiana x Attalea dubia, is it possible?

Update.

Mark Lynn from Mule Palm Nursery is reporting outstanding results in his pollination efforts this time around on the Butia X Cocos. We should be seeing a lot more of these soon. I am heading to Hawaii at the end of the month to collect more pollen.

Erik

That's great news, will he be selling them?

[epicure3]

Are there any pictures of a mature specimen of ButiaXCocos? That would be great to see but all we see are seedlings.