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.

[N8ALLRIGHT]

I've seen this on eBay for a while now. Always thought it was a heck of a deal. I purchased a small 4' one several years ago and it has done well for me, mine is roughly as blue as my cerifera.Don't know if you want to drive to Tallahassee or not but

[Ben G.]

5 hours ago, Manalto said:

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?

 

I like butias with greener fronds myself, and less tightly recurved. I feel like most butias I see are pretty darn blue/silver though. So, hopefully you will find a good one that fits what you are looking for.

I agree with @Fusca though. They may not turn out the way they appear when you buy them. I bought a green butia with less recurved fronds in spring 2024 at about 5 gal size. It is now fairly silvery blue with tightly recurved fronds. I am guessing that full sun and a drier Texas climate are responsible for the change from its appearance at the nursery.

[Harry’s Palms]

About 30 years ago I bought a Butia Bonetti in a seedling band with just a couple of strap leaves . It was a dull green color. I had no idea what it was but a close friend said it was just a Pindo palm ( Butia ) . It is now a very large Butia Oderata that is very Silver / blue . Around here there are plenty of green ones but fewer blue ones . Mine was about 8-10 years old before slowly pushing out very silvery fronds. Some show color earlier. Good luck finding the one you want . It should be easy to find though , I don’t consider them rare at all. Harry

‘This is as the sun is setting with shade on part of the palm

On an overcast day from down next to the palm. Give these lots of room , they get very large!

This is a greener one at a local church . I think it may be changing to more silver . Mine was a bit younger when it started turning color. 

[Manalto]

Thanks for your responses. I’ve learned that acquiring a silvery-blue butia is pretty much a crapshoot, unless you buy a mature specimen, and even then the palm may not have reached its ultimate appearance. My reasoning for seeking this color is because of its contribution to my landscape design. Although I have many blooming plants (a previous owner of this old house planted many camellias), my design “philosophy” is to choose plants for foliage texture and color, since these characteristics endure well past any season of bloom. It’s really an academic exercise after all, since planting a young butia that one person can handle (my intention), means it will be enjoyed in maturity by the next occupant of this address. A pilgrimage to Tallahassee (less than a 4-hour drive from Mobile) may be in the future if smaller specimens are available at Galore, and if the jubea genetics don’t make the Gulf Coast summers a threat to its survival.

[Jubilation]

If youre ok with seeds check out @MobileBayGarden's posts on the sale forum. "Super Silver" may be of interest.

 

 

His latest sales post https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/90658-rare-butia-syagrus-seeds-–-limited-supply/#comment-1225526

[Scott W]

On 1/19/2026 at 10:40 PM, N8ALLRIGHT said:

I've seen this on eBay for a while now. Always thought it was a heck of a deal. I purchased a small 4' one several years ago and it has done well for me, mine is roughly as blue as my cerifera.Don't know if you want to drive to Tallahassee or not but

I can vouch for this vendor as well.  I purchased one 8 years ago and have been very impressed,  both with the color and growth rate.  Eric does offer smaller, shippable sizes as well.  And yes, it does have Jubaea blood in it's DNA, I confirmed this with mine when it flowered this year, as many of the flowers had more than six stamens.