Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Pindo Palm
Pindo Palm, also called jelly palm, is a slow-growing feather palm with gray-green fronds that arch and curve back toward a short, stout trunk. It stays much smaller than most date palms, usually 10 to 20 feet tall, so it fits a home yard as a garden specimen. Female palms bear clusters of yellow to orange fruit that people use for jelly. It is one of the most cold-hardy feather palms, taking about 10 to 15°F once mature.
Best for: a garden specimen or accent palm in a home yard, a palm that stays low among taller palms, and a large container while young.
It usually grows 10 to 20 feet tall with a short, stout trunk, far smaller than a Canary Island date palm. Its arching, curved-back fronds make it an accent palm for a front or back yard.
Its low, full crown looks good planted among tall, slender palms. The crown spreads about 10 to 15 feet wide, so give it an open spot.
Female palms bear clusters of yellow to orange fruit about an inch across, with a sweet-tart, pineapple-like flavor. People use it for jelly and jam.
In alkaline or poorly drained soil the fronds can turn yellow. Soggy soil can lead to bud rot. Fallen fruit needs picking up under female palms.
- Palm to palm10-15 ft apart
Water a new palm daily for the first two weeks, keeping the root ball moist but not soggy. Then water about once a week, 2 feet deep, and widen the watered area as roots grow.
Once rooted, soak it about 2 feet deep and let the soil dry between waterings. Water more often in summer and much less in winter. Keep water off the trunk.
Feed with a palm fertilizer twice a year while the soil is warm, in spring and in mid-summer. Skip feeding late in the year.
Remove only old or dead fronds, cutting the stubs evenly for a neat trunk. Never cut green fronds above the horizontal, and do not use climbing spikes.
Mature palms take about 10 to 15°F. Young palms are more tender, so cover them on hard freeze nights and avoid low frost pockets.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does a Pindo Palm get?
It usually grows 10 to 20 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide, with a short, stout trunk. Some old palms reach 30 feet. Plan a spot where the crown can spread.
How fast does a Pindo Palm grow?
It grows slowly, so it stays a home-yard size for years. Pick the size you want to start with, since it will not shoot up quickly.
Is Pindo Palm fruit edible?
Yes. Female palms bear yellow to orange fruit about an inch across, with a sweet-tart flavor. People make jelly, jam and wine from it.
How cold hardy is a Pindo Palm?
It is one of the most cold-hardy feather palms, taking about 10 to 15°F once mature. Young palms are more tender, so cover a young palm on hard freeze nights.
How often should I water a Pindo Palm?
Once rooted, soak it about 2 feet deep and let the soil dry between waterings. Water more often in summer and about monthly in winter.
Does a Pindo Palm need full sun?
Full sun suits it best in the Valley, and it also grows in part shade. Plant it where it gets sun most of the day.
Why are my Pindo Palm fronds turning yellow?
Alkaline or poorly drained soil can turn the fronds yellow. Feed with a palm fertilizer in spring and mid-summer, and keep water from standing around the roots.
How do I trim a Pindo Palm?
Remove only old or dead fronds, and cut the stubs evenly so the trunk does not look ragged. Leave green fronds in place.
When is the best time to plant a Pindo Palm?
Plant palms in late spring to summer, May through July, when the soil is warm. Cool-season planting slows root growth.
Is a Pindo Palm the same as a Canary Island date palm?
No. Pindo stays much smaller, usually 10 to 20 feet, with gray-green, strongly arching fronds. Canary Island date palm grows 40 to 50 feet tall with a much wider crown.
Pindo Palm for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Pindo Palm, or jelly palm, is a feather palm from southern Brazil and Uruguay, long sold as Butia capitata. It grows slowly into a short, stout palm with arching gray-green fronds. Below is what to expect from it in a Valley yard: size, sun, water, cold, fruit, pruning, and when to plant.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
How big does a Pindo Palm get in Arizona?
It usually grows 10 to 20 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide, with a short, stout trunk. It grows slowly, so it stays a home-yard size for years.
Is Pindo Palm cold hardy in Phoenix?
Yes. It is one of the most cold-hardy feather palms, taking about 10 to 15°F once mature. Cover young palms on hard freeze nights.
Can you eat Pindo Palm fruit?
Yes. Female palms bear clusters of yellow to orange fruit about an inch across. The sweet-tart fruit is used for jelly and jam, which is why it is also called jelly palm.
How often do you water a Pindo Palm in the Valley?
Water deeply, about 2 feet down, and let the soil dry between waterings. Give more water in summer and much less in winter, and keep water off the trunk.
Butia capitata or Butia odorata?
The pindo palm sold in nurseries as Butia capitata is now usually called Butia odorata. It comes from southern Brazil and Uruguay. Both names refer to the same garden jelly palm.
Pindo Palm vs Canary Island date palm
Both are feather palms, but Pindo stays small, usually 10 to 20 feet tall. Canary Island date palm grows 40 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 40 feet wide. Pindo suits a home yard.
When should you plant a palm in Phoenix?
Plant palms in late spring and summer, May through July, when the soil is warm. Palms root fastest in warm weather, and cool-season planting slows them down.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.