Quest for Bluest Butia

[Manalto]

After the loss of my giant live oak, I’ve been replanting the area, which is now in shockingly harsh full Alabama sun. The spot previously occupied by a Trachycarpus fortunei that bit the dust is now available. (I was told by a landscaper that windmills, especially the young ones, are iffy in this 8B climate, with the combination of sustained heat and occasional droughts.) Anyway, I’ve decided to replace it with a butia, the bluer ( or silvery, if you prefer) the better. Butias are slow, but they do well here. I’m OK with the odorata, but open to suggestions for other butia species/hybrids that may put on size a little faster, and sources that supply them. I’d be happy if it eventually looked like this one, thriving on neglect in a dicey part of town:

 

I’m giving myself until March to find that special butia,  and then, if all else fails, I’ll go the conventional route and choose the best-looking odorata from a local supplier. Worst-case scenario would be a big box butia, but that’s okay, too. Your thoughts?

 

[Fusca]

2 hours ago, Manalto said:

I’m giving myself until March to find that special butia,  and then, if all else fails, I’ll go the conventional route and choose the best-looking odorata from a local supplier. Worst-case scenario would be a big box butia, but that’s okay, too. Your thoughts?

I'm afraid the "conventional route" is your best bet to find a particularly blue Butia.  At a grower in Florida might be the best way to find one with more to pick from.  12 years ago when I lived in the Houston area I visited 4 different Houston Garden Centers to find a blue one.  Once I located an exceptionally blue mature Butia odorata and grew up a seedling from it but it turned out green!  They're so variable it's not likely to find a dependable source of blue ones.  I don't know if other species are any faster or more likely to be blue.  Butia hybrids with Syagrus (mules) are always green and hybrids with Jubaea are likely green also but definitely faster.