Phoenix dactylifera (F)

RHS Plant Profile
date palm

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A tall, tender palm with elegant, arching leaves composed of many linear, grey-green leaflets. In its native environments it produces 1-2m long flower spikes from the crown of the tree; these are followed by sweet, edible fruits (dates)

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
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)
H1A

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Arecaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright
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
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea

This genus produces fruit, but not necessarily edible fruit
Plant Range
Probably N. Africa and W.Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light. Water freely in growth and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly; water sparingly in winter. See palm cultivation indoors for further information

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Sub-tropical
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free