Twisted Butia Odorata

[Brad Mondel]

Not sure if anyone has seen this before but check out this Butia. It's really bizarre looking. The petioles are twisted into a spiral and even the trunk is starting to twist.

I can't wait to see what it looks like when it gets older, does anyone here have a Butia like this?

[_Keith]

Awesome looking palm.

[Sabal Steve]

There's a spectacular one near where I work, I'll post a pic when I have a minute. Looks like B. capitata.

[Sabal Steve]

There's a spectacular one near where I work, I'll post a pic when I have a minute. Looks like B. capitata.

[Sabal Steve]

It's so robust looking though, it makes me wonder if it is a cross, or perhaps something different all together?

[Brad Mondel]

That's one awesome palm, wow. I think mines even more twisted than that one, it's just hard to get a good angle or photo because the crown is so dense.

I can't believe how fat that butia is though. It reminds me of a Jubaea.

[Sabal Steve]

That's one awesome palm, wow. I think mines even more twisted than that one, it's just hard to get a good angle or photo because the crown is so dense. I can't believe how fat that butia is though. It reminds me of a Jubaea.

I initially thought that there may have been some Jubaea in it to. It's a CHUNKY palm. I'll admit though, I know next to nothing regarding the Butia genus.

[Brad Mondel]

Here's another shot:

[Sabal Steve]

I'd estimate (conservatively) that the trunk is >20".

[Sabal Steve]

I'd estimate (conservatively) that the trunk is >20".

[Brad Mondel]

It's possible that the Butia you posted is a Jubaea x Butia cross. I know there's plenty of Jubaea in California that people might hybridize with Butia or vice versa.

[Sabal Steve]

That's quite possible. I don't know much about the x.

[Sabal Steve]

Where's the butia experts? Gary Levine has butia x's in his yard.

[WestCoastGal]

The twisting is very interesting to see in a young plant like yours. Makes me wonder if the pot it's in wasn't rotated periodically. Also think the wind could have played a part in it happening.

As for petioles twisting, we have a butia that has the fronds turned upside down and growing at various angles. Don't recall thinking the trunk was affected however, but it is a fairly older butia compared to yours so once it put on a solid trunk it probably would have altered some of the twisting. It's frond pattern is nothing like our other butia that has the typical recurved fronds.

[Brad Mondel]

Okay, look now at the petioles:

[HorsesnPalms]

Okay, look now at the petioles:

That is absolutely wicked! Love it!

[Palmdude]

My Dypsis Decipiens has twisted petioles and several leaves have turned upside down

[Mandrew968]

My Dypsis Decipiens has twisted petioles and several leaves have turned upside down

Cherish that palm, because it won't last long.

[jfrye01@live.com]

Wow! Very very cool! Keep us posted on its growth;)

[PalmatierMeg]

I like it a lot. Definitely a keeper