Butia Capitata Fruiting

[nitsua0895]

Last June I planted a Butia that was almost 3 feet tall, should I expect it to fruit this coming summer or does it have to reach a substantial size before it does? 

[Chris Chance]

It will take a while before you see fruit. I'm not sure how long it will take but it will need to mature which will probably take years. Looks good though! 

[Brad Mondel]

It won't fruit until it has some trunk, which will be some years away. Also, the name Butia capitata has been changed to Butia odorata. Capitata is rare in cultivation and it was realized all cultivated capitatas are actually odorata. 

[dalmatiansoap]

Here's mine, still no sign of flowering.

[Brad Mondel]

This one hasn't fruited yet and it's four years along after being planted from a 7 gallon. 

[tinman10101]

fruits are yummy too.  taste like pineapple to me and i eat them all before the rats get to them.  it definitely needs to get considerable size than that before it starts fruiting.   mine is probably 15 years old and ten of those years were spent growing in a pot and just started fruiting the last 2 years

cheers

tin

[NorthFlpalmguy]

About 6-7 OA (small trunk development) from my experience and most seem to abort the first time flowering. It could be because I heavily fertilize my fields though. Approximately 4 years until fruiting at best I'd guess.

[SouthSeaNate]

They don't need to be trunking, but they do need to be a bit larger. This is one of several planted in Portsmouth in the UK & has flowered & fruited for quite a few years now...

[Brad Mondel]

That palm looks like it is trunking, just retaining old fronds at the same time. 

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

The one that brad showed might flower this year. If not it will next year for sure. I dont know what northflpalmguy sees out east but in texas the first spathe rarely makes a single viable seed. 

[NorthFlpalmguy]

12 hours ago, TexasColdHardyPalms said:

The one that brad showed might flower this year. If not it will next year for sure. I dont know what northflpalmguy sees out east but in texas the first spathe rarely makes a single viable seed.

Same here.

[SouthSeaNate]

13 hours ago, Brad Mondel said:

That palm looks like it is trunking, just retaining old fronds at the same time.

That's the biggest of the Butia's planted there, smaller ones have also flowered/fruited...

[mcrawford]

Mine here in central Az 1st fruited about 8 yrs ago.  It had substantial trunk at the time.

This photo is from 5 yrs ago, perhaps 3 yrs after it started to fruit.

The fruit tastes great, but good luck getting much of it, as the birds like it also.