South Brasil frontier with Uruguay

[Nigel]

As you travel south , around 100km from the border you start to find BIG Butias along the roadside. Brasilians love to eat the fruits of Butia and as they drive along they eat the fruits and toss the seeds out of the car window. This is great for conservation as the roadsides are one of the few places where a Butia can grow without being eaten by cows or destroyed by farm machinery.

[Nigel]

The worlds biggest Butia forest is in Rocha Uruguay , but it overlaps into the southern tip of Brasil. Unfortunately the once great Butia forests of south brasil have been destroyed by agriculture but remnants remain.

[Nigel]

To dismiss the illusion that Butia doent like wetness, this area is floodplain that spends several months a year in saturated condition.

[Nigel]

Whilst the palm is threatened in the wild state , it is not going to become extinct due to the roadside populations, and the people of the southern tip of Brasil are very proud of their butias.

The weather at time of visit, was cold and wet,with temp of 10C at midday, fairly typical for winter in this region.

The palms reach max heights of around 11 metres trunk an are more than 200 years old.

This is probably the best adapted palm for cooler regions. I would appreciate if 1 particular person could refrain from posting the normal antagonistic and patronising 'Butias are only fit for growing in southern europe' cliche that appear nightly on every forum in every thread.

Edited July 24, 2011 by Nigel

[dalmatiansoap]

Nice report Nigel. So U say Brasilians love to eat frut, do they preserve it somehow or thy just eat it like that? They have high "Butia culture", I remember reading some posts about Butia festivals, correct me if Im wrong?

[Nigel]

Yes, Butia fruits are very popular, also you can buy the juice, even ice cream.

In fruit season you see fruit sellers along the sides of the roads.

They also put the fruits into the local moonshine made from sugar cane to give it a nutty flavour.

[dalmatiansoap]

I still have a no idea why we dont have more Butias here? Climate fits, sun fits not so sure about water needs, whats with wind resistance?

[Nigel]

I still have a no idea why we dont have more Butias here? Climate fits, sun fits not so sure about water needs, whats with wind resistance?

You need them.... they love water but are also drought tolerant. Wind is no problem.

[Patricia-CR]

Very interesting. Nice place, nice palms. South America is in my future plans, not only for its native palms, but for its native cactus and brugmansias

[JD in the OC]

I picked fruit off Butia on the Las Vegas strip due to some late-night hunger from drinking. Passerby's thought I was crazy!

[Erik]

I love the photos and stories.

I have had one in the ground for four years and it has seen super cold and high highs, drought and soggy soil. Hail, wind, etc.--very tough palm. Grows fast too!

[paulgila]

nice photos & very informative thread!

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Butias are great palms. OK, they might not have the cache of a Royal in the tropics, but how nice does a Royal look after a 6" snow and a low of -10C? Hmm. A Butia will shrug it off and provide you a snack the next summer. We've got some Beauties here in N. FL. Wish I had the $$$ to buy one with about 5 meters of trunk. Though you can find them in the nursery industry, they are all harvested from people's yards and they are generally quite expensive. In these uncertain times, I'm growing them from babies.

[Takil-Explorer]

Whilst the palm is threatened in the wild state , it is not going to become extinct due to the roadside populations, and the people of the southern tip of Brasil are very proud of their butias.

The weather at time of visit, was cold and wet,with temp of 10C at midday, fairly typical for winter in this region.

The palms reach max heights of around 11 metres trunk an are more than 200 years old.

This is probably the best adapted palm for cooler regions. I would appreciate if 1 particular person could refrain from posting the normal antagonistic and patronising 'Butias are only fit for growing in southern europe' cliche that appear nightly on every forum in every thread.

Well there are some in Montreux. And the mild parts of the UK like Cornwall, the South Coast, Brittany and similair places. There you can find older ones wich did also survive the coldest winters. But as you know there where a lot of Butia victims in Holland, England and other countries. So to say that its the best palm for cooler climates unfortunately its not! Thats still Trachycarpus fortunei, much hardier as many healthy specimems here in The Hague area prove! But with Butia odorata they only survive colder winter well protected and with Christmass lights to keep to much frost out!

Offcourse Northern Florida can not be compaired with N.W. Europe! It can get cold there now and then, but only for a brieve period. And most of the year its hot and humid there.

I myself have seen Butia eriospatha and B. odorata in the wild.

Alexander

[Takil-Explorer]

Butia odorata grows on dry granit outcrops with cacti as well on rich loamy soils with a high watertable! These pictures are from El Palmar de Castillos. About the climate trhere, I saw in gardens Hibiscus rosa sinensis and other plants wich are not hardy in my climate. Well it says a bit about the climate in that area.

Dry habitad.

Moist habitad with Cortaderia.

Alexander

[Nigel]

Well there are some in Montreux. And the mild parts of the UK like Cornwall, the South Coast, Brittany and similair places. There you can find older ones wich did also survive the coldest winters. But as you know there where a lot of Butia victims in Holland, England and other countries. So to say that its the best palm for cooler climates unfortunately its not! Thats still Trachycarpus fortunei, much hardier as many healthy specimems here in The Hague area prove! But with Butia odorata they only survive colder winter well protected and with Christmass lights to keep to much frost out!

Offcourse Northern Florida can not be compaired with N.W. Europe! It can get cold there now and then, but only for a brieve period. And most of the year its hot and humid there.

I specifically asked in a polite way that you did not write your usual daily cliche but as usual you cannot respect or understand that this is a hobby that people enjoy for the challenge. You really do not have any respect for these people when you spend every night with your patronising and inane comments at experienced people with a passion for the hobby.

Trachycarpus fortunei is no more hardy in central holland than butia in central england, you dont find 50 year old trees in central holland.

I am really sick of waking up every morning and in every palmthread on every forum i have to read '' well i guess this is only a palm for southern europe'' . Why do you frequent forums with people who enjoy the challenge and feel the need to write this in every thread on every forum every night, it is like a kind of mental illness.

I will explain for you one more time.

In north europe and much of the states people like to grow palms because they are different, because they create an exotic effect, because nobody else has them.

Nobody else has them because THEY ARE NOT FULLY HARDY, people who like palms and enjoy the challenge KNOW THIS.

People like to share their experiences and put photos and to show their achievements against the climateic challenge.

the forum gives PLEASURE, but when one person every night is patronising and making stupid remarks to experienced palm lovers it detroys the pleasure.

Of course you know all this, but you enjoy winding everybody up with your nightly attacks of cliches.

I sincerely wish you could grasp the concept that people grow palms in north europe because its a challenge ,they dont want to grow hardy roses, and respect and understand the hobby.

The last thing people want is somebody spoiling their threads in which they want to show their achievements and passion, by writing endless patronising cliches.

Edited July 28, 2011 by Nigel

[amazondk]

Thanks for the trip Nigel. Brazil is a real big country to say the least.

dk

[Takil-Explorer]

Well there are some in Montreux. And the mild parts of the UK like Cornwall, the South Coast, Brittany and similair places. There you can find older ones wich did also survive the coldest winters. But as you know there where a lot of Butia victims in Holland, England and other countries. So to say that its the best palm for cooler climates unfortunately its not! Thats still Trachycarpus fortunei, much hardier as many healthy specimems here in The Hague area prove! But with Butia odorata they only survive colder winter well protected and with Christmass lights to keep to much frost out!

Offcourse Northern Florida can not be compaired with N.W. Europe! It can get cold there now and then, but only for a brieve period. And most of the year its hot and humid there.

I specifically asked in a polite way that you did not write your usual daily cliche but as usual you cannot respect or understand that this is a hobby that people enjoy for the challenge. You really do not have any respect for these people when you spend every night with your patronising and inane comments at experienced people with a passion for the hobby.

Trachycarpus fortunei is no more hardy in central holland than butia in central england, you dont find 50 year old trees in central holland.

I am really sick of waking up every morning and in every palmthread on every forum i have to read '' well i guess this is only a palm for southern europe'' . Why do you frequent forums with people who enjoy the challenge and feel the need to write this in every thread on every forum every night, it is like a kind of mental illness.

I will explain for you one more time.

In north europe and much of the states people like to grow palms because they are different, because they create an exotic effect, because nobody else has them.

Nobody else has them because THEY ARE NOT FULLY HARDY, people who like palms and enjoy the challenge KNOW THIS.

People like to share their experiences and put photos and to show their achievements against the climateic challenge.

the forum gives PLEASURE, but when one person every night is patronising and making stupid remarks to experienced palm lovers it detroys the pleasure.

Of course you know all this, but you enjoy winding everybody up with your nightly attacks of cliches.

I sincerely wish you could grasp the concept that people grow palms in north europe because its a challenge ,they dont want to grow hardy roses, and respect and understand the hobby.

The last thing people want is somebody spoiling their threads in which they want to show their achievements and passion, by writing endless patronising cliches.

Sorry Nigel,

I do not want to stop any people growing them! And maybe I have said enough about them. And then I shall also not place anymore habitat pictures here as well.Despite the fact that many people like them. And ectually I on another forum someone had a question about a Butia. He wanted to know which species it was. I told him he should ask you because you know a lot about them and have seen many Butia in habitad!

Saludo,

Alexander

[realarch]

The first photo in post #2 is just amazing. What a stately picture of a Butia. Thanks Nigel.

[Donald Sanders]

You sound like a real fun guy. Maybe we should censor this site even more. It's not so heavy. Growing palms and studying them should be fun.

Donald Sanders

Well there are some in Montreux. And the mild parts of the UK like Cornwall, the South Coast, Brittany and similair places. There you can find older ones wich did also survive the coldest winters. But as you know there where a lot of Butia victims in Holland, England and other countries. So to say that its the best palm for cooler climates unfortunately its not! Thats still Trachycarpus fortunei, much hardier as many healthy specimems here in The Hague area prove! But with Butia odorata they only survive colder winter well protected and with Christmass lights to keep to much frost out!

Offcourse Northern Florida can not be compaired with N.W. Europe! It can get cold there now and then, but only for a brieve period. And most of the year its hot and humid there.

I specifically asked in a polite way that you did not write your usual daily cliche but as usual you cannot respect or understand that this is a hobby that people enjoy for the challenge. You really do not have any respect for these people when you spend every night with your patronising and inane comments at experienced people with a passion for the hobby.

Trachycarpus fortunei is no more hardy in central holland than butia in central england, you dont find 50 year old trees in central holland.

I am really sick of waking up every morning and in every palmthread on every forum i have to read '' well i guess this is only a palm for southern europe'' . Why do you frequent forums with people who enjoy the challenge and feel the need to write this in every thread on every forum every night, it is like a kind of mental illness.

I will explain for you one more time.

In north europe and much of the states people like to grow palms because they are different, because they create an exotic effect, because nobody else has them.

Nobody else has them because THEY ARE NOT FULLY HARDY, people who like palms and enjoy the challenge KNOW THIS.

People like to share their experiences and put photos and to show their achievements against the climateic challenge.

the forum gives PLEASURE, but when one person every night is patronising and making stupid remarks to experienced palm lovers it detroys the pleasure.

Of course you know all this, but you enjoy winding everybody up with your nightly attacks of cliches.

I sincerely wish you could grasp the concept that people grow palms in north europe because its a challenge ,they dont want to grow hardy roses, and respect and understand the hobby.

The last thing people want is somebody spoiling their threads in which they want to show their achievements and passion, by writing endless patronising cliches.

[Nigel]

Sorry Nigel,

I do not want to stop any people growing them! And maybe I have said enough about them. And then I shall also not place anymore habitat pictures here as well.Despite the fact that many people like them. And ectually I on another forum someone had a question about a Butia. He wanted to know which species it was. I told him he should ask you because you know a lot about them and have seen many Butia in habitad!

Saludo,

Alexander

Alexander you have so many positive things to offer from your voyages and experiences it is beyond my comprhension why every night you bombard the boards with so much negativity. You could really help people by giving constructive advice instead of making them crazy and your photos from your travels are wonderful.

[ErikSJI]

Whilst the palm is threatened in the wild state , it is not going to become extinct due to the roadside populations, and the people of the southern tip of Brasil are very proud of their butias.

The weather at time of visit, was cold and wet,with temp of 10C at midday, fairly typical for winter in this region.

The palms reach max heights of around 11 metres trunk an are more than 200 years old.

This is probably the best adapted palm for cooler regions. I would appreciate if 1 particular person could refrain from posting the normal antagonistic and patronising 'Butias are only fit for growing in southern europe' cliche that appear nightly on every forum in every thread.

Well there are some in Montreux. And the mild parts of the UK like Cornwall, the South Coast, Brittany and similair places. There you can find older ones wich did also survive the coldest winters. But as you know there where a lot of Butia victims in Holland, England and other countries. So to say that its the best palm for cooler climates unfortunately its not! Thats still Trachycarpus fortunei, much hardier as many healthy specimems here in The Hague area prove! But with Butia odorata they only survive colder winter well protected and with Christmass lights to keep to much frost out!

Offcourse Northern Florida can not be compaired with N.W. Europe! It can get cold there now and then, but only for a brieve period. And most of the year its hot and humid there.

I myself have seen Butia eriospatha and B. odorata in the wild.

Alexander

Great information Alexander. Thank you for SHARING.