Family: Arecaceae
Common Name: Date Palm

Distributed widely throughout tropical and warm regions of Africa, Asia and southern China, this well-known genus of feather palms comprises around 17 species. Phoenix can be distinguished from other palm genera by the sharp, strong spines of the lower leaflets and the pattern of old leaf bases. The palm-like inflorescences are borne among the leaf bases and the oblong fruits ripen to yellow, orange, red, purple or black, depending on species. They are among the hardiest of palms and look striking in larger landscapes.

Species

P. canariensis, Canary Island date, is now widely cultivated in many parts of the world, and mature specimens are often found in parks and streets in warm-climate countries. It is generally too large for the home garden as it grows up to 20 m (65 ft) tall, with a solitary stern, about 70 cm (28 in) in diameter, rough-surfaced and patterned with diamond-shaped leaf scars. It has a massive crown, with crowded, forward-pointing, dull, deep green leaflets. In midsummer, the female plants bear orange fruits among the leaf bases.

P. dactylifera, date palm, is the source of the edible date, and is thought to be a native of northern Africa and the Arabian peninsula. In various warm and tropical parts of the world, including California and Arizona, it is grown commercially for its fruit. It has a rough trunk, growing to about 30 m (100 ft) tall and 30-40 cm (12-16 in) in diameter. As it suckers from the base, old trees may have several trunks. The leaves are very long, narrow and quite sparse, with forward-pointing, grayish green leaflets. Fruit colour varies from pale yellow to reddish.

P. reclinata, African wild date, found throughout tropical and southern Africa, is a very ornamental species. Multistemmed even when young, it eventually forms a clump of about 20 slender trunks, up to 15 m (50 ft) tall, with new sucker growths appearing continuously at the base. The crown is relatively small, with shorter leaves than those on other species and glossy, bright green, sparser leaflets. Fruits are bright orange-yellow. This palm is a spectacular subject for large, grassed areas.

P. roebelenii, pygmy date palm, originally from Laos, the smallest species generally cultivated, grows to around 3 m (10 ft) tall. The single, slightly crooked trunk is narrow at the bottom, broadening near the top, and covered with peg-like projections, representing the old leaf bases, each beautifully round-tipped and symmetrical. The crown has densely packed leaves to about 1.5 m (5 ft) long, the lower ones pendulous, and evenly spaced, narrow, glossy green leaflets. The female inflorescences bear a profusion of small, black fruits.

Cultivation

These palms are easy to grow, but in frost-prone climates are best grown as pot plants in a warm greenhouse or conservatory. Outdoors, all need sun, but young plants can survive in quite deep shade. All the larger species can tolerate strong winds. Most are not suitable for use as container plants as their powerful roots tend to push out through the bottom of the pot. They should therefore be planted out at an early stage of growth. An exception is P. roebelenii, which is less vigorous and often container grown. Although most are from the tropics, all seem to do well in climatic zones considerably cooler than those in which they occur naturally. Propagate from seed, which germinates reasonably quickly. These palms are dioecious.

Climate

Warmest parts of zone 9 and above.