Jelly palm is a hardy member of the palm family (Arecaceae). It is native to southern Brazil and adjacent Uruguay. This palm has long been mistakenly called Butia captiata , but that species is a more tropical species that is not as hardy and is rare in cultivation. All jelly palms in our area are Butia odorata . The species epithet, odorata , means fragrant. The meaning of the epithet was not explained when it was proposed; perhaps it refers to the fragrant ripe fruits. Jelly palm prefers a warm, sunny location. Its leaves grow longer in partial shade situations, giving the palm a more graceful aspect than those grown in full sun, but they lose much of their silvery color. This variety is one of the hardiest of the feather-leaved palms. It has some drought tolerance due to its deep root system. It is moderately salt tolerant but intolerant of full shade, prolonged cold, and wet soil. This plant has few pest problems. This single-stemmed, cold-hardy palm has feathery, pinnate leaves that arch and recurve towards a thick, stout trunk. This shrub or small tree can reach up to 20 feet. Eventually, this plant will become a small (palm) tree. The base of the petiole is armed with teeth (short spines). The creamy white flowers attract bees. This palm is popular in the warm, coastal part of southeastern NC. It makes a fine accent or specimen in a sunny border or lawn. It adds interest to winter gardens and can be grown for their edible fruits. Quick ID Hints : Single, stout stem, clothed in gray leaf bases Blue-green, long, recurved, pinnately compound leaves Teeth (spines) on the margin of the petiole base. Stiffly erect pinnae ascend rachis in V-formation. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Use a palm-specific fertilizer when growing in low-nutrient soil.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Leaves range from light green to bluish-gray (in general, a blue-green) and grow 5 to 10 feet long that arch inwards. Each leaf has 25-60 pairs of narrow pointed leaflets. The leaves are pinnately compound, pinnae linear, 2-ranked in V-shape, regularly spaced in one plane, ascending, have a single fold, and spiral arrangement.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Axillary flower clusters on large 3- to 4-foot-long inflorescence bearing tiny, creamy, showy flowers are fruity-scented. This plant has unisexual flowers of both sexes (male with 6 stamens and female with 3 stigmas and a solitary pistol).
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit value
Edible; Showy
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is spherical to ovoid, yellow to red, and 1 inch. It is used to make jellies and fermented for wine.
Stem color
Gray/Silver
Stem detail
The stem is stout, erect, clothed with grey leaf bases.