Seasonality: evergreen
Size: to 100ft, spread to 30ft; growth rate is slow, may take 15 years to attain 10ft
Leaves: pinnate, feather-like fronds, 15-20ft long, more silver-gray than other Phoenix palms, rough and sharp, toothed petioles, held more erect (not arching); life span of leaf is 3-7 years; frond bases usually persist on trunk if not removed
Flowers: diecious; off-white clusters, not ornamental
Fruit: edible dates on female plants (if pollinated); cylindrical 1-2in long yellow fruit held out amongst fronds in pendulous clusters
Stems/Trunks: slender trunk, 18in diameter, leaf base scars form interesting geometric pattern; may produce basal offsets
Range/Origin: Asia, in cultivation worldwide for millennia
Hardiness: damage seen in mid twenties
LANDSCAPE VALUE:
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| Phoenix dactylifera |
- skyline tree when tall
- oasis effect
- too large for most residential uses
- Exposure: full sun to shade, thrives in heat; also likes humidity
- Water: natural rainfall; recommend once per month for good ornamental quality
- Soil: somewhat adaptable, best in sandy well-drained
- Propagation: seed from isolated population, or offsets to ensure sex and quality of fruit
- Maintenance: high; fruit on females attracts animals and drops messily, frond removal
