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Date Palm, True Date Palm, Edible Date
Phoenix dactylifera

Climate Resiliency 3 out of 5 stars

Large slow growing palm with feather-shaped fronds. May form multiple trucks when young, but most often seen in single trunk form. The fronds are gray-green to blue-green with sharp spines at the base. Both male and female plants produce brush-like stalks of white to cream flowers. Females produce orange-brown fruits. Dates can be messy but are a food source for birds. This species of date palm is the source of commercially sold dates. Only remove fronds that hang below three o'clock and nine o'clock. Best planted in spring or summer. Susceptible to bud rot and heart rot. Can sustain cold damage during the harsher winters and is slow to recover. Spray irrigation damages the trunk.

  • Plant type: Palm
  • Maintenance level: Medium
  • Water requirement: Medium
  • Sun exposure: Full, Part Sun, Reflected Heat
  • Height range: 40–60 Feet
  • Width range: 20 Feet
  • Growth rate: Slow
  • Seasonal habit: Evergreen
  • Flower color: White
  • Flower season: Spring, Summer
  • Fruit color: Orange, Brown
  • Fruit season: Autumn
  • General foliage color: Blue, Grey, Green
  • Design style: Thorns/Spines
  • Hardiness cold tolerance: 20 °F
  • Soil preference: Well Drained
  • Canopy value: 236 ft²
  • Native location: Egypt, Iran, Pakistan (North Africa and Middle East; Persian Gulf Countries)
  • PH preference: Neutral, Not Particular
  • Sunset zones: 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  • USDA hardiness zone: 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b

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