2001 Examples of Hybrid <em>Butia</em> Palms

Examples of Hybrid Butia Palms

Location: CFPACS

Date Submitted: Spring 2001

These pages show one of the more unique species cross in the entire plant kingdom, commonly referred to as Mule palms (the palms will produce fruit/seed but they are sterile ALA mules).
Pollen from a Syagrus (Syagrus romanzoffiana, middle palm in the image) pollinates the female flowers of a Butia (Butia capitata, top palm in the image) thus forming the beginning of a hybrid. So far there are no crosses of Butia pollen with Syagrus pistillate (female) flowers. Seed has been produced in this manner but they have yet to germinate into actual palms.
The Butia genus also hybridizes with the Jubaea (Jubaea chilensis, bottom palm in the image) genus and we have some photos of the result of that as well.

A Butiagrus on the left, Syagrus romanzoffiana (Queen Palm) on the right. Note the differences between 1 gal. sdlgs. Foliage is similar to a pindo's but with some queen palm characteristics: Leaves are still emerging entire, some leaves only partially open into pinnate form, the color of foliage is more queen-like, the base of the trunk is green rather than allbrown.

A 2 gallon Butiagrus Foliage closely resembles a pindo's but is the color of a queen palm. Some entire leaves are still present which would be absent at this stage on a pindo. Bases of petioles remain green.

A 5 gallon Butiagrus. The foliage is similar to a pindo's but finer, less stiff, and the color of a queen palm. The bases of the petioles form a distinctly green trunk while a pindo would have a brown trunk.

Butiagrus palms about ten years from seed. Mule palms are highly variable in foliage form, something they inherit from their respective parents. Here, the foliage resembles Butia more than Syagrus, a much stiffer & more upright V-shaped form.

One of the oldest/tallest Butiagrus in Orlando. In excess of 40 ft overall, a true tribute to "hybridization vigor" equals taking the best attributes of both species, resulting in a stronger, faster, and overall "tougher" palm. However, not all hybrids are vigorous. Just because it's a hybrid doesn't make it a great palm.

Butia X Jubaea hybrid at Lake Eola, Orlando. It was tough to get a good picture of this palm as it is being crowded by two Phoenix canariensis. The foliage looks like a date palm, only relaxed, softer. The stem is already massive (note the large P. canariensis stem behind the hybrid's) and the palm itself is well over 20 ft overall.

Butia X Jubaea hybrid at Dr. Young's, Tampa. Growing in shady conditions, the petioles have elongated to reveal a sturdy stem w/ foliage form leaning more towards Butia (we think); not too many Jubaea palms in Florida to make comparisions with...

Examples of Hybrid Butia Palms