Peach palm (pejibaye, chontaduro, pupunha) Bactris gasipaes
Peach palm (pejibaye, chontaduro, pupunha) (Bactris gasipaes) is an evergreen perennial fruit plant in the Arecaceae family, native to South-western Amazonia (domesticated from wild Bactris). It grows 10–20 m (33–66 ft) tall and 4–7 m (13–23 ft) wide, wants full sun and high water, and is hardy to about 5 °C (41 °F). Space plants about 5 m (16 ft) apart.
Plan Peach palm (pejibaye, chontaduro, pupunha) in your garden →
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Peach palm (pejibaye, chontaduro, pupunha) at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 10–20 m (33–66 ft) |
| Mature spread | 4–7 m (13–23 ft) |
| Spacing | 5 m (16 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 4.5–6.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About 5 °C (41 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 11) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 36 °C (97 °F) |
| Flowering | from about June for 4–9 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Yes: cooked fruit, heart of palm |
| Native to | South-western Amazonia (domesticated from wild Bactris) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇧🇷 Brazil |
Is Peach palm (pejibaye, chontaduro, pupunha) toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
- Parts: raw fruit
The fruit is always boiled: raw it is irritant to mouth and gut. Most forms have trunks ringed with long black spines.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Peach palm (pejibaye, chontaduro, pupunha)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and high water.
Questions about Peach palm (pejibaye, chontaduro, pupunha)
- How far apart should I plant Peach palm (pejibaye, chontaduro, pupunha)?
- About 5 m (16 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 4–7 m (13–23 ft).
- Does Peach palm (pejibaye, chontaduro, pupunha) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Peach palm (pejibaye, chontaduro, pupunha) need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Peach palm (pejibaye, chontaduro, pupunha)?
- It tolerates about 5 °C (41 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 11.
- When does Peach palm (pejibaye, chontaduro, pupunha) flower?
- From about June for 4–9 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Peach palm (pejibaye, chontaduro, pupunha) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people mildly toxic. The fruit is always boiled: raw it is irritant to mouth and gut. Most forms have trunks ringed with long black spines.
- What grows well with Peach palm (pejibaye, chontaduro, pupunha)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Peach palm (pejibaye, chontaduro, pupunha). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Fruits of Warm Climates (Morton, 1987), Purdue University NewCROP
- Flora e Funga do Brasil, Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro (REFLORA)
- Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Notes and assumptions
- A clumping palm domesticated by Amazonian peoples; heavy bunches of starchy red-orange fruit are boiled in salt water and eaten as chontaduro. Spineless forms are farmed for heart of palm.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Coconut palm Cocos nucifera
- Date palm Phoenix dactylifera
- Açaí palm Euterpe oleracea
- Mexican fan palm Washingtonia robusta
- African oil palm Elaeis guineensis
- Areca palm (golden cane palm) Dypsis lutescens
- Chilean wine palm Jubaea chilensis
- Joey palm Johannesteijsmannia altifrons