Re: Epicurian Delicacy - Jelly Palm - Butia capitata

I second that sentiment. Delicious! I had some while
visiting the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek,
Calif. recently. Their tree seems very happy and had a
prolific crop.

Deborah Lindsay
Oakland, Calif.

--- Linda - The Lavender Lady <mtnstar@ocsnet.net>
wrote:

> Hello all,
> 
> Anyone know or grow the jelly palm, Butia capitata? 
> If not you should try 
> it.  I was very surprised late this summer to see my
> jelly palm had produced 
> three foot long and narrow bracts.  I couldn't
> believe this palm planted 
> last year from a five gallon container was already
> flowering.  After waiting 
> several weeks, eventually the bracts broke open to
> reveal a rusty brown 
> colored inflorescence that opened to creamy white
> flowers,  Later these were 
> transformed into sprays of hard green fruit.  Then
> the sprays of green fruit 
> slowly started to ripen.  Now its December and one
> bunch of the fruit of my 
> jelly palm is ripe.  The fruit is about the size of
> a quarter and is both 
> sweet and tart.  My husband says it has a taste
> similar to pineapple.  To my 
> taste buds this fruit is an epicurian delicacy and I
> highly recommend it to 
> grow.  The skin and flesh is a light golden orange
> color similar to apricot 
> or loquat with a large seed in the middle.  But the
> taste is worth the 
> effort for such a large seeded, small fruit. 
> Hopefully when my tree grows 
> to a larger size, I will be rewarded with many more
> bunches of fruit. 
> Presently my tree has three bunches of fruit, two
> with golden fruit and one 
> still somewhat green.  There is another bract that
> has not opened and I am 
> hoping it will open in the spring.  I am covering
> the bunches of fruit with 
> a towel when frost is expected.  Not only does the
> palm produce fruit, but 
> the feathery blue green leaf fronds make this palm
> attractive as a landscape 
> speciment tree.
> 
> Linda Starr
> Springville Lavender Gardens
> 


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