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Tropicals, Woody > Phoenix > Phoenix canariensis > Phoenix canariensis

Phoenix canariensis


Canary Date Palm, Canary Island Date Palm




Origin:  Native to the Canary Islands.
Family
Arecaceae
Genus
Phoenix
Species
canariensis
Category
Tropicals, Woody
Type
Tree (evergreen)
USDA Hardiness Zone
11a - 11b
Canadian Hardiness Zone
Requires cool season protection under glass.
RHS Hardiness Zone
H1c
Temperature (°C)
4 - 10
Temperature (°F)
40 - 50
Height
18 - 20 m
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
JuneJulyAugust
Landscape
The Phoeninx Palm is best grown on the Patio in a large pot and brought under cover in the winter, and as a street tree or garden plant.
Cultivation
Grow best in full sun and a well-drained loamy soil, and it can tolerate a wide range of exposures, including deep shade, and a wide range of soil types, including sand and heavy clay. It has a unique ability to tolerate both severe drought and flooding very well, which makes them ideal to plant in housing tracts in which the soil was heavily compacted.
Growth
Medium
Habitat
From sea-level up to 600 m in a range of habitats, from humid areas just below cloud forest to semi-arid areas where its presence usually indicates groundwater.
Bark/Stem Description
A single-trunked palm tree, pinnate palm to 20 m or more tall, 60 - 90 cm in diameter, often with a much wider base, and rounded crown of dark green feather leaves 4-6 m long. Trunk dull brown, marked with broad, diamond-shaped leaf base scars.
Flower/Leaf Bud Description
The species is dioecious, with separate male and female trees. Staminate inflorescence erect, yellow-green with reddish-brown tomentum when young becoming brown and coriaceous, to about 40 cm. Pistillate flowers mostly in distal half of rachillae, yellow-white, with faintly sweet scent; calyx cupule about 2.5 mm high; petals about 3 x 4 mm.
Leaf Description
Dark green feather leaves 4-6 m long, with pinnae to 20-40 cm long closely spaced along the rachis. Phoenix canariensis has long, sharp spines at the bases of the leaves, which are formed from modified leaflets.
Fruit Description
Inedible fruit, 5 cm long, 12 mm wide and orange in colour when ripe.The seed is typical date-shaped with rounded ends.
Notable Specimens
Glendurgan Garden, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Trebah Gardens, Mawnan Smith, Nr Falmouth, Cornwall.
Propagation
Germinate seeds in a warm environment, they germinate quite quickly.
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