Phoenix canariensis

RHS Plant Profile

Canary Island date palm

Other common names

Canary date palm, slender date palm

Palms Conservatory Greenhouse

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A tree-like palm to 15m or more, with a stout trunk and spreading deep green leaves to 5m in length, pinnately divided into many linear leaflets; drooping panicles of creamy-yellow flowers, followed by reddish-yellow fruits

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 20–50 years
Max Spread: wider than 8 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Arecaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Phoenix are evergreen palms with solitary or clustered stems and narrowly oblong, pinnate leaves with linear segments, and drooping panicles of yellow flowers followed by fleshy ellipsoid fruits
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Canary Islands

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass or as a houseplant in a peat-free, loam-based compost in bright indirect light. When in growth water moderately and feed with a balanced fertiliser once a month. Water sparingly in winter. If moved outside during summer, locate in a sunny sheltered position with some midday shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at not less than 25°C

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Architectural

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, thrips, mealybugs and scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free