My Patrick Schafer Hybrids

[Scott W]

3 hours ago, Mattpalm28 said:

Anyone had any issues being sent to the uk? Mine were stopped at customs 

That's always a risk, especially without the proper phytosanitary certification.

[Swolte]

Just wondering, will customs return to sender or are these palms lost?

[Dwarf Fan]

20 hours ago, Swolte said:

Just wondering, will customs return to sender or are these palms lost?

Even if they did a “return to sender” from NorCal to UK (camping out in Customs for ?? days) then back across the pond to NorCal that would be asking a lot from a liner sized Palm. Once intercepted they probably became property of the Queen and their undignified demise will be to just wither away in a customs warehouse somewhere, with some spurious label slapped on to warn of the potential dire contents of said cardboard box.

Such a shame that all the effort and time that went into making the hybrid(s) and to then have them cross the ocean and never be able to literally have their day in the sun. Truly unfortunate all around.

Sorry for your loss Matt, I know how much shipping to Texas cost me, I can only imagine how much UK shipping must have added to your total.

 

[Robbertico18]

17 hours ago, Dwarf Fan said:

Even if they did a “return to sender” from NorCal to UK (camping out in Customs for ?? days) then back across the pond to NorCal that would be asking a lot from a liner sized Palm. Once intercepted they probably became property of the Queen and their undignified demise will be to just wither away in a customs warehouse somewhere, with some spurious label slapped on to warn of the potential dire contents of said cardboard box.

Such a shame that all the effort and time that went into making the hybrid(s) and to then have them cross the ocean and never be able to literally have their day in the sun. Truly unfortunate all around.

Sorry for your loss Matt, I know how much shipping to Texas cost me, I can only imagine how much UK shipping must have added to your total.

 

RIP Elizabeth 

[Mattpalm28]

Received my hybrid palms from Patric today 

[Scott W]

43 minutes ago, Mattpalm28 said:

Received my hybrid palms from Patric today 

 

Congrats!  What'd you get?

[Dwarf Fan]

48 minutes ago, Mattpalm28 said:

Received my hybrid palms from Patric today 

Wow, did they finally make it out of customs…? Or did Mr. Schafer fix things for you?

5 minutes ago, Scott W said:

Congrats!  What'd you get?

Yes do tell what did you pick/end up with?

[Mattpalm28]

@Scott W I got butia x butia/queen. I just love butia hybrid palms. @Dwarf Fan I re ordered some. Sadly the first ones got distorted by customs. I have been desperate to get hold of some of Patrick’s hybrids. Trying to get my hands on some in the uk is practically impossible! 

[Dwarf Fan]

15 hours ago, Mattpalm28 said:

@Scott W I got butia x butia/queen. I just love butia hybrid palms. @Dwarf Fan I re ordered some. Sadly the first ones got distorted by customs. I have been desperate to get hold of some of Patrick’s hybrids. Trying to get my hands on some in the uk is practically impossible! 

Matt, I am glad your story has a happy ending, albeit a costly one, the fact that you had the tenacity to reorder and risk possible confiscation again shows not only an unflinching dedication to the hobby but also some grit on your part.

That whole not letting the Govt dictate your pursuit of happiness certainly resonates here in the USA and of course here in Texas. 

Score one for the little guy, glad your Schafer Butia Hybrid is now safely in your garden, way to not take no for an answer, tip of the cowboy hat in your direction from the Lone Star State.

Here is my:

P. schafer BUTIA X BUTIA/QUEEN

[Mattpalm28]

@Dwarf Fan thank you for the kind words. 
I wasn’t going to give up and I will most definitely be ordering more in the future. 

 

I just love the tropical look for the hybrids and knowing I can grow them in the uk is a bonus. 

How old is your butia x butia/queen?

 

I have a few normal butia and they seem quite fast growing in the uk south climate 

[Dwarf Fan]

12 hours ago, Mattpalm28 said:

@Dwarf Fan thank you for the kind words. 
I wasn’t going to give up and I will most definitely be ordering more in the future. 

 

I just love the tropical look for the hybrids and knowing I can grow them in the uk is a bonus. 

How old is your butia x butia/queen?

 

I have a few normal butia and they seem quite fast growing in the uk south climate 

I like your style Matt, I also want a VERY tropical looking Palm collection but our cold winters won’t allow me to sustain a Cocos Nucifera, even with all our high temperatures during summer, so Mr. Schafer’s Hybrids become an indispensable solution.

Patrix hybrids, once established, should grow very vigorously and quickly compared to a non-hybrid Butia.

I received my BUTIA X BUTIA/QUEEN on October 13, 2023 the pic above was taken December 9, 2023.

It came from Patrix Fall palms list 9/5/2023.

I ordered several others as well as some larger sized hybrids.

BUTIA PARAGUAYENSIS X MONTY (3”x9” Size & Liner Size):

BUTIA X SYAGRUS CORONATA/QUEEN 5G Size:

[Mattpalm28]

@Dwarf Fan

how cold do your winters get? 
 

we had a terrible winter in the uk last year and I lost a few palms, including a jubaea :(

[Dwarf Fan]

12 hours ago, Mattpalm28 said:

@Dwarf Fan

how cold do your winters get? 
 

we had a terrible winter in the uk last year and I lost a few palms, including a jubaea

We just had a horrible winter recently as well, 2021 was referred to as “Palmageddon” it was the coldest winter in decades, it killed 1000s of Palms throughout the State.

February 15, 2021 low of 20°F (-6.6C)

February 4, 2022 low of 30°F (-1.1C)

I am hopeful for a 2023 winter like last year which should be uneventful for all my Palms, as everyone is going in ground with no protection this month. 

[Eric33]

Hello ,

Patrick has a new 2024 list ?

[fr8train]

I tried ordering, but he just stopped responding to me randomly. That was last year at this point. 

[Dwarf Fan]

I had something similar happen, I take it he is busy right now.

If anyone hears anything about his next list that is released let me know here or by Private Message. 

We were fortunate and had a low of 28F (-2.2C) here on N. Padre Island this Feb and all Patrix hybrids never stopped growing even right after the cold front!

Here are in ground pics taken today of my

BUTIA PARAGUAYENSIS X MONTY (3”x9” Size) 2/22/2024

BUTIA X SYAGRUS CORONATA/QUEEN (5 Gal) 2/22/2024

[Chester B]

Mine are all going in the ground this summer.  The two BY x J will be planted tomorrow.  BY x PJS have already been accounted for in another area.  They are enjoying the warm Texas weather and actively growing so am happy to see that.

[VA Jeff]

Patrick doesn't have a list right now.  He will in the future.  He confirmed he has access to jubaea pollen but not a mother.  Be patient for a few months.

[fr8train]

On 2/22/2024 at 2:27 PM, Dwarf Fan said:

I had something similar happen, I take it he is busy right now.

I just checked my email, it was September of last year. I was almost ready to place an order and he ghosted me. I selected 1 palm that had sold out, and wanted to sub another in its place and he stopped responding. 

Based on what I've read it reminded me of the soup guy in Seinfeld. Maybe I said something wrong? 🤔 

Maybe I'll try again at some point in the future. 🤷‍♂️ 

[Dwarf Fan]

6 hours ago, fr8train said:

I just checked my email, it was September of last year. I was almost ready to place an order and he ghosted me. I selected 1 palm that had sold out, and wanted to sub another in its place and he stopped responding. 

Based on what I've read it reminded me of the soup guy in Seinfeld. Maybe I said something wrong? 🤔 

Maybe I'll try again at some point in the future. 🤷‍♂️ 

That was right around the time he started doing a TON of order fulfillment, you probably just got lost in the shuffle, my experience is Patrix is he is very kind, highly intelligent and extremely generous but the man doesn’t have much time for individual “chit chat” online. You really have to be brief (also don’t piss him off) and just follow his lead and be patient, that is my best advice. You can always check in, but don’t be bothersome or annoy him, the man has a ton going on and he can only do so much, considering he has so many people to communicate with and ship to worldwide.

[Chester B]

He was very quick to respond to my inquiries, but I kept it concise and to the point.  There was a problem with the tracking number and he got it sorted right away and was very communicative.  Good experience for me.  I'm pretty sure he's a one man show so I imagine things can get overwhelming at times.

[fr8train]

I don't think I've ever chit chatted with someone while ordering something online, but I'll keep that in mind. 

[Mattpalm28]

On 12/9/2023 at 10:56 PM, Dwarf Fan said:

Matt, I am glad your story has a happy ending, albeit a costly one, the fact that you had the tenacity to reorder and risk possible confiscation again shows not only an unflinching dedication to the hobby but also some grit on your part.

That whole not letting the Govt dictate your pursuit of happiness certainly resonates here in the USA and of course here in Texas. 

Score one for the little guy, glad your Schafer Butia Hybrid is now safely in your garden, way to not take no for an answer, tip of the cowboy hat in your direction from the Lone Star State.

Here is my:

P. schafer BUTIA X BUTIA/QUEEN

How is your butia x butia queen now? Any picture updates? 

[Chester B]

Update on my Butia x Parajubaea sunkhas.  I think I will keep them for another year in the pots so they have a good size trunk before they go in the ground.  I'm not sure how cold hardy they will be.

I lost one of the BYxJ due to drainage issues.  The other is growing out of some winter damage  

 

 

[ahosey01]

54 minutes ago, Chester B said:

Update on my Butia x Parajubaea sunkhas.  I think I will keep them for another year in the pots so they have a good size trunk before they go in the ground.  I'm not sure how cold hardy they will be.

I lost one of the BYxJ due to drainage issues.  The other is growing out of some winter damage  

 

 

Butia anything has issues with our soil down here.  I think it's got to do with a combination of alkalinity and drainage because in the few places where the soil isn't alkaline, they do fine, and in the few places where the soil is sandy, they also do fine.  I also think they don't care for soil salts, which I think you get too much rain to have a problem with.  They do really bad where the soil is alkaline and heavy.  Presumably you won't have the first problem, just the second.

[Chester B]

4 minutes ago, ahosey01 said:

Butia anything has issues with our soil down here.  I think it's got to do with a combination of alkalinity and drainage because in the few places where the soil isn't alkaline, they do fine, and in the few places where the soil is sandy, they also do fine.  I also think they don't care for soil salts, which I think you get too much rain to have a problem with.  They do really bad where the soil is alkaline and heavy.  Presumably you won't have the first problem, just the second.

There are lots of nice Butia in my neighborhood and all around so they are fine here. We had ridiculous amounts of rain last year and the one palm sunk down too low and rotted.  The other one is growing very well aside from this winters damage.  But it is rapidly growing again with the heat, it has pushed out all the rotten tissue.  

[ahosey01]

1 minute ago, Chester B said:

There are lots of nice Butia in my neighborhood and all around so they are fine here. We had ridiculous amounts of rain last year and the one palm sunk down too low and rotted.  The other one is growing very well aside from this winters damage.  But it is rapidly growing again with the heat, it has pushed out all the rotten tissue.  

Strangely, the Queens actually do the best down here in terms of common landscape palms (outside of the native S. mexicana and the ubiquitous W. robusta).  Despite the soil salts and the alkalinity, they appear to thrive with a lack of drainage, which keeps them looking lush and beautiful even during our droughts.  The nicest queen I've ever seen in my life is about a mile up the road from me.

Mules seem to do okay also, but they have problems with the brackish well water if that's how you get your irrigation.

[5am]

2 hours ago, ahosey01 said:

Butia anything has issues with our soil down here.  I think it's got to do with a combination of alkalinity and drainage because in the few places where the soil isn't alkaline, they do fine, and in the few places where the soil is sandy, they also do fine.

I'd love to try a Patrick hybrid but I've heard that before so I'm going to start taking a good look at how the pindos  are doing in my neck of the woods. I think there might be more opportunity here than folks realize, or so goes my uneducated guess based on this TX geology map from the USGS. There are a handful of nice butias around Harlingen but maybe that's because the whole north end is made of a different units than what's found in Brownsville and a lot of the valley. All the light pink is mud but the darker pink is "dominantly silt and sand"? 🤔 

Here's an example from Palm Valley, in the orange. I recall there being several around the neighborhood.

[ahosey01]

12 minutes ago, 5am said:

I'd love to try a Patrick hybrid but I've heard that before so I'm going to start taking a good look at how the pindos  are doing in my neck of the woods. I think there might be more opportunity here than folks realize, or so goes my uneducated guess based on this TX geology map from the USGS. There are a handful of nice butias around Harlingen but maybe that's because the whole north end is made of a different units than what's found in Brownsville and a lot of the valley. All the light pink is mud but the darker pink is "dominantly silt and sand"? 🤔 

Here's an example from Palm Valley, in the orange. I recall there being several around the neighborhood.

What part of which town are you in?

[5am]

15 minutes ago, ahosey01 said:

What part of which town are you in?

I'll send you a direct message.

[Tom in Tucson]

On 2/23/2024 at 11:07 PM, fr8train said:

I just checked my email, it was September of last year. I was almost ready to place an order and he ghosted me. I selected 1 palm that had sold out, and wanted to sub another in its place and he stopped responding. 

Based on what I've read it reminded me of the soup guy in Seinfeld. Maybe I said something wrong? 🤔 

Maybe I'll try again at some point in the future. 🤷‍♂️ 

I had to laugh when I tried to equate Patrick with the SOUP NAZI! He has a few quirks that are typical of some of the genius people I've come in contact with, but his specialty at cocoid hybridizing is known worldwide. I wish he had help with his projects. I don't think anyone will "fill his shoes" anytime soon.

BTW, if you, or anyone else has a new list from him, please post it here in any format that is convenient. 

[fr8train]

2 hours ago, Tom in Tucson said:

I had to laugh when I tried to equate Patrick with the SOUP NAZI! He has a few quirks that are typical of some of the genius people I've come in contact with, but his specialty at cocoid hybridizing is known worldwide. I wish he had help with his projects. I don't think anyone will "fill his shoes" anytime soon.

BTW, if you, or anyone else has a new list from him, please post it here in any format that is convenient. 

I never heard from him again, good luck to you!   

[Tom in Tucson]

On 3/25/2025 at 8:01 AM, Chester B said:

Update on my Butia x Parajubaea sunkhas.  I think I will keep them for another year in the pots so they have a good size trunk before they go in the ground.  I'm not sure how cold hardy they will be.

I lost one of the BYxJ due to drainage issues.  The other is growing out of some winter damage  

 

 

I really appreciate the images you posted. I bought 1 from Patrick ~ '16. For the first few years I thought after reading a post here (about the possibility that his seedlings of this hybrid were just plain old pindo runts) that I had nothing more than a weak looking pindo. Since mine is about the same size as yours, the subtle differences are becoming apparent.

Hi 82˚, Lo 47˚