Yatay Palm Plant Care
Butia yatay Becc.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Butia yatay, the jelly palm or yatay palm, is a Butia palm native to southern Brazil, Uruguay and northern Argentina. It is known as the butiá-jataí in Portuguese in the south of Brazil, as well as simply jataí or butiá.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–90°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Yatay Palm?
Water Yatay Palm every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–90°F (10–32°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 8 months during the growing season.
What Is the Yatay Palm?
Yatay Palm (Butia yatay) belongs to the Arecaceae family within the Butia genus. Yatay Palm is native to southern Brazil, Uruguay and northern Argentina. Yatay Palm is also known as Jelly Palm.
Yatay Palm displays a single trunk palm growth habit, reaching up to 20 ft tall with a spread of approximately 10 ft. Yatay Palm produces creamy yellow flowers in clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 36 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Yatay Palm?
Butia yatay requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Yatay Palm Need?
Yatay Palm thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Yatay Palm Prefer?
Butia yatay grows best at temperatures of 50–90°F. Yatay Palm prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–90°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Yatay Palm?
Well-draining sandy soil mix with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Yatay Palm to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Yatay Palm?
Feed Yatay Palm every 8 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 8 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Yatay Palm?
Repot every 2-3 years in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Yatay Palm?
Yatay Palm can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to pindo palm plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Yatay Palm Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Yatay Palm, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Yatay Palm?
Yatay Palm is susceptible to spider mites, palm aphids. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Yatay Palm Need?
Yatay Palm grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Yatay Palm is native to southern Brazil, Uruguay and northern Argentina. In cooler regions, grow Yatay Palm as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Yatay Palm is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Butia genus — compare its care with other Butia species on PlantoScan.
Butia is part of the Arecaceae plant family — browse all Arecaceae genera and species.
Yatay Palm thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Butia Species
Other Butia species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Butia yatay Becc., family Arecaceae (first published in Agric. Colon. 10: 498 (1916)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Yatay Palm, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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