Phoenix canariensis (Canary Date Palm, Canary Island Date Palm)
Botanical Information
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Genus | Phoenix |
| Species | canariensis |
| Category | Tropicals, Woody |
| Type | Tree (evergreen) |
| Origin | Native to the Canary Islands. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 11a - 11b |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H1c |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | 4 - 10 |
| Temperature (°F) | 40 - 50 |
| Height | 18 - 20 m |
| Growth | Medium |
| Flowering Period | June, July, August |
Description and Growing Information
| Landscape | The Phoenix 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. |
| Propagation | Germinate seeds in a warm environment, they germinate quite quickly. |
| 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. |
| Notable Specimens | Glendurgan Garden, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Trebah Gardens, Mawnan Smith, Nr Falmouth, Cornwall. |
| 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 typically date-shaped with rounded ends. |
Photographs
Phoenix canariensis, form.
Phoenix canariensis, leaf.
Phoenis canariensis, form.Trebah Gardens, Mawnan Smith, Nr Falmouth, Cornwall. 15/10/2019.
Phoenix canariensis, form, Glendurgan Garden, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Phoenix canariensis, form, Glendurgan Garden, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Awards
