Phoenix canariensis in a Planter - Date Palm

Zoom image Phoenix canariensis in a Planter - Date Palm

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The Canary Island Date Palm, or Phoenix canariensis is a large palm native to the Canary Islands off the Atlantic coast of north Africa. It grows up to 20 m tall but usually does not reach 10 m, with a stout trunk 70-90 cm diameter. The leaves are pinnate, up to 6 m long, with 80-100 leaflets on each side of the central rachis. The fruit is an oval yellow to orange-brown drupe 2 cm long and 1 cm diameter and containing a single large seed; the fruit pulp is edible but too thin to be worth eating.

The Canary Island Date Palm is very widely planted as an ornamental plant in warm temperate regions of the world, particularly in areas with Mediterranean climates. It can be cultivated where temperatures never fall below -10/-12 °C, although it will require some protection if cold periods are longer than normal. So it can be grown from southernmost England in the north to New Zealand in the south. It is particularly popular in Spain, Italy, Greece, south and western France, warmer parts of the USA, Australia and South Africa.

This slow growing tree is exclusively propagated by seed. Its drought tolerance contributes to its widespread use as a roadside or park landscaping element. Due to the palm's eventual size, it is not recommended for smaller residential gardens or yards. In addition, dead leaves are dangerous to be removed by hand as the petioles are armed with large spines. Because the palm frond pattern of this species is particularly dense when fully grown and can harbor rodent infestations, some arborists suggest trimming these trees into a "pineapple" configuration, with a minimum of leaves on top.