Butia Yatay or Capitata?

[Chipdoo]

Does anyone know which is colder hardier of the two? I apologize if this was asked in past (I'm sure it was)...

I read conflicting info on the net when I look it up. I was under the impression that the Yatay is more cold hardier from certain sources, then I read that the Cap is more cold hardier since it has a thicker skin on its leaves....

I would imagine that theres not a huge difference, but I guess every degree counts.

I have Cap at the moment and have a Yatay on the way to me coming next week.

I plan on putting one in my backyard about 4 feet off my neighbors garage on the south side.

I plan on putting the other one either in the front lawn which is South but is about 10-12 foot away from the house (wind may be an issue) or at the corner of my house which is SW location.

Are there any opinions or any experiences on which of the two is hardier? I would like to place them according to hardiness.....

Thanks all!

-Rob

[Don Little]

Rob

Where are you located is the most important factor since both of these species are very cold hardy and can easily take temps into the teens.

[Kathy]

Nigel would be one of the Butia experts to pay attention to, and I'm sure he'll report in soon.

I understand that capitata is more cold tolerant.  Remember that individual genetics also plays a role.

[Alberto]

Butia eriospatha!

[edbrown_III]

There isnt any side by side experiments to tell.

I have Butia capitata eriospathea and B. yatay and paraguensis here in Jax. The group has only seen 21F at the lowest tho I know B. capitata has seen 6F in Norht Florida and there are plants in North Carolina. This would be the real test ; "so to speak"

Merrill has both B. capitata and B. yatai.   I think those both have seen 89 which means they saw 15 or 16F but I will let him comment on this.

Perhaps one of the Californians could comment. A lady in Atherton CA had temps of 17 F (suburb of SF)

Best regards

Ed

[Nigel]

(Kathy @ Apr. 01 2007,10:09)

QUOTE

Nigel would be one of the Butia experts to pay attention to, and I'm sure he'll report in soon.

I understand that capitata is more cold tolerant.  Remember that individual genetics also plays a role.

Emoticon for blushing........ thanks Kathy.

In my experience here in the UK, the question is almost impossible to answer.

Butia capitata hardiness varies considerably, which considering its enormous geographic distribution is probably not surprising.

Butia yatay is more consistent but seems to suffer leaf spot at temps below -6C, although temps down to at leat -10C dont kill them.

Some strains of Butia capitata are extremely tough and suffer no leaf spot at these temps, whereas I have seen other browned at the leaf tips quite badly.

So far , as Alberto says, Butia eriospatha seems to be the one to grow, with consistent results that indicate no damage and fast growth.

[Brian_K]

My capitata saw -2F (-19C) in Cinncinati, Ohio.  It took heavy damage to most of its fronds, but did NOT lose the spear.  I hope it can grow out of the damage over the summer.

[Alicehunter2000]

(Brian_K @ Apr. 01 2007,17:17)

QUOTE

My capitata saw -2F (-19C) in Cinncinati, Ohio.  It took heavy damage to most of its fronds, but did NOT lose the spear.  I hope it can grow out of the damage over the summer.

Wow! -2 F. ! I know of many that have taken down to the low teens............... but -2 F. ...........that's a keeper. If it makes it through get in touch with Tim Hopper (Hybridpalms.com) down in Jacksonville........talk about a cold hardy Butigurus!

[merrill]

Quoting Ed, "Merrill has both B. capitata and B. yatai.   I think those both have seen 89 which means they saw 15 or 16F but I will let him comment on this."

Over twenty very mixed Butia failed to bloom after 10F, but didn't show much damage.  JXB bloomed profusely the next year.  XButyagrus required surgery, but 9 out of ten survived after surgery.  It would be interesting to see what happens at lower temperatures, but no thanks!  -  merrill

[Chipdoo]

Thanks for all the great replies.

I guess it would be a hit or a miss on which is hardier. I guess the plant itself plays a major role from where it originated from.

Ill take a shot at planting the Yatay in the front and the cap in the back yard.

My neighbors may think I'm Coocko, but oh well!

On another note, I moved my Cap out about 2 weeks ago. I see the leaves are starting to turn brown. Is this due to the shock from being in my sun room most of the winter or simply cant take the temps? The lowest its seen since I moved it I would guess is maybe 35 degrees, give or take a few. I'm assuming that its shocked since going from 70 degree indoors to 50s days and 30s nighttime.

Perhaps maybe the sun directly on it is doing it?

Thanks all!!

Here is a pic:

[Chipdoo]

Just wanted to bump this back up to see if anyone thinks this plant may be in distress?? I moved it in the garage for now as its real cold today and briefly snowed in the city! Tonights "real feel" temp is forecast for 18 degrees.

[BobbyinNY]

Just wanted to bump this back up to see if anyone thinks this plant may be in distress?? I moved it in the garage for now as its real cold today and briefly snowed in the city! Tonights "real feel" temp is forecast for 18 degrees.

Rob, that looks like sunburn to me...  It happens to my christmas palms every spring when I pick them up from the arboretum that I keep them at. They're too hard to move around so I have no choice but to let them get acclimated, and by going from an indoor location to a full-sun location they burn every year, but grow new fronds in a month or 2....

I would definitely bring your plants indoors at night for the next couple nights.. It's gonna be nipple-weather out there tonight.

[Chipdoo]

Thanks Bobby!

Wasn't sure if it was the cold or the sun. I moved them into my garage for the last couple of nights as this weather is crazy.

I got my Yatay also, what bad timing..... Thats in another post found here.... :-)

PalmTalk

[SoulofthePlace]

I think Butia yatay's petioles or frond bases are much less silvery and are more green than Butia capitata's. And I think and I hope that is a good identifier between those two babes.

Also I want to share this statistics with you. Last year I sow 100 seeds of B. yatay. About 25% germinated (not bad) and one germinated this spring. I also have one B. yatay that's like 2+ years old and therefore I can see the differences although I thought B. yatay's fronds would be less bowed that B. capitata's but they ARE bowed as well.

I never grew B. capitata from seed though. What is yours germination rate for B. yatay?

[SoulofthePlace]

I want to add that Butia yatay's fronds are not twisted like a propeller unlike Butia capitata's. Yatay's fronds are bowed straight down, while Capitata's fronds are bowed down with a twist to the right, like a propeller or you could say, a swastika. Perhaps that's a good identifier as well for ~4-7 year old plants.