Botanical Name: Phoenix dactylifera
Common Name: Date palm Type of Plant: monocot: treelike Character evergreen Habit of Growth: Overall Shape a clumping feather palm (often grown as single-trunk form), with upright slender stalks and stiff fronds forming a distinctive cluster if suckers not removed; not self-cleaning Height 25'-40' (80') Spread 1/4 - 1/3 Growth Rate moderate Environment: Exposure outdoors thrives in full sun - hot inland habitats; tolerates light shade Soil prefers fast-draining locales; tolerates clay if not over-watered Hardiness some frost (zones 9, 11, 12-24): best in hot desert sites Morphology: Leaves long stiff feather-shaped fronds, gray-green, with basal pinnae reduced to narrow spine-like structures; to 10'-12' long; fronds mostly straight rather than recurved Flowers plants dioecious; flowers small, yellowish, on rather short intricate panicles; summer Fruit the classic 'date' (drupe); shape and color varies with variety Propagation: seed or division of a clump Usage: in low desert areas, is widely used as a large-scale vertical accent in tropical/desert themes for its dramatic silhouette and gray-green leaves; is faster growing & more slender than the related P. canariensis Landscape Care: Watering prefers regular if grown on sandy soils in warm areas; tolerates considerable drought Fertilizing little required as an ornamental; use balanced for promoting fruit production Pruning remove old fronds; remove basal suckers if a single trunk form is desired Pests/Diseases relatively free; crown rot in poorly-drained sites Special Conditions/Other Origin: Egypt, Arabian Peninsula Family: Arecaceae Notes: |
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