The large palm has a thick tall patterned trunk with a spreading rounded crown of large divided grey-green fronds. The creamy white cup-shaped flowers appear in a pendent branched cluster from spring to summer and are followed by yellow fruit.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Phoenix dactyliferais naturally found from northern Africa to the Middle East but is widely cultivated and origins are uncertain.

It prefers an open sunny position with moderately fertile well-drained, alluvial soils and tolerates drought or high temperatures but is frost tender.

Date Palm is grown for its fruit and its majestic habit. It is planted in parks and large gardens as a lawn specimen or used for avenue plantings. It establishes from division in 3 to 5 years and is grown commercially for its editable fruit. It may also be grown in containers when young and is an excellent glasshouse specimen for cool climates.ID 1805

Note:
It is commonly found along water courses where the roots have permanent access to water and suckers from the base, forming clumps with age and easily propagated from offsets.

The trunks are slender up to 400mm (30in) in diameter and retain old leaf bases towards the top. It has been cultivated for over 5,000 years for its fruit and is now successfully cultivated in the valleys of southern California.

Phoenix (FEE-nix) dactylifera(dak-te-LIF-e-ra)

Arecaceae(ar-ek-AY-see-ee)     
(Palmae)
Palm Family