phoenix
( FEE - nicks )
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At-A-Glance InformationThis genus of palms, commonly referred to as Date Palms, includes mostly large trees (though some are small enough for home gardens), and need full sun and regular water. The trunks collect old leaf scars, and small yellow-ish flowers are produced in large sprays. Flowers, if pollinated, will produce fruits called dates (species Phoenix dactylifera and Phoenix sylvestris produce some of the best dates in the genus). Take care when planting these trees in the landscape, as their new growth has needle-like spines called raphides that contain calcium oxalate, and if they pierce the skin they cause pain, swelling, irrigation, inflammation, redness, burning, and itching.
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phoenix Species and Varietals
Phoenix includes 14 species of palm, and is a member of the plant family Arecaceae. The best growing zones for Date Palms vary, depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm) This species grows well in zones 8, 9, 12-24, H1 and H2, and is native to the Canary Islands. They are hardy to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but are slow to recover from hard frosts. These trees have heavy trunks and slowly reach 60 feet tall and 50 feet wide. Fronds are bright green to deep green, and form a nice crown. Young plants can be grown in containers for many years, and resemble pineapples. These need space and are not for small gardens. Can take seaside conditions. |
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Phoenix dactylifera (Date Palm, The Date) This species grows well in zones 8, 9, 11-24, H1 and H2 and is hardy down to around 4 degrees Fahrenheit (though leaves will die off around 20 degrees Fahrenheit). These trees are native to deserts of the Middle East and have waxy, sharp-pointed leaflets. Date Palms reach 80 feet tall and 20-40 feet wide, with a slender trunk. These trees are grown commercially for their fruits; the most commonly grown variety for this purpose is 'Deglet Noor'. Date Palms are too large for home gardens, but these trees do well oceanside or in deserts. |
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Phoenix reclinata (Senegal Date Palm) Best in zones 9, 13-17, 21-24 and H2, these palms are damaged below 25 degrees and are native to Africa. Reaches 20-30 feet tall and just as wide. These trees produce offshoots and form clumps of plants, though offshoots can be taken off for a single-trunked look. Fertilize for faster growth. This species is great by the ocean. |
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Phoenix roebelenii (Pygmy Date Palm) This species is best in zones 13, 16, 17, 22-24, H2 or grown as an indoor plant. Foliage will damage around 26 degrees Fahrenheit, but will recover quickly in springtime. Native to Laos, these trees are small, slow-growing and single-trunked, topping out at 6-10 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. Leaves are curving. These trees are wonderful in pots or when grown in groves. They need full sun to partial shade, or bright, indirect light if grown indoors. |
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Phoenix rupicola (Cliff Date Palm) This species is grown in zones 13, 16, 17, 19-24, H1 and H2. It is hardy down to 26 degrees Fahrenheit and native to India. Trunk is slender, and this species only reaches 25feet tall and 15-20 feet wide. Foliage is lime-green and lush, and lower leaves have a drooping habit to them. Best with some shade, especially when young. |
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Phoenix sylvestris (Wild Date Palm, Silver Date Palm) Best in zones 8, 9, 12-24H1 and H2, and is hardy down to 22 degrees Fahrenheit. This native to India reaches 30 feet tall and 20-25 feet wide. The trunk tapers at the base and is narrow at the top, and crown is dense and grey-green. The sap from these trees is used to make date sugar. |
Caring for and pruning phoenix Trees
These trees will hybridize freely, so purchase your tree from a nursery that can identify the tree's seed or plant source with confidence. If purchasing from a non-industry seller, trees may not be true to type. These trees should be planted in a place where they will receive full to partial shade. In climates that experience a lot of heat and intense sun, they will appreciate at least some late afternoon shade. In milder climates, it is more common to see them planted in full sun, where they can receive at least six hours of direct sun each day. Ensure that soil is well-draining and acidic to slightly alkaline (with a pH of between 5.5 and 7.5). If local soils are particularly heavy, make sure to amend the planting site with plenty of organic material, perlite and/or sand. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the planting area to increase soil moisture retention, maintain constant soil temperatures and suppress weed growth. Make sure that the mulch does not touch the trunk itself. Water newly installed trees regularly (daily for the first two weeks in the ground, and then lessened) as they establish a strong root system. Mature trees should also receive regular waterings. As a rule of thumb, irrigate when the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch.
These plants do not necessarily require much in the way of fertilizing unless they are being grown for their edible fruits. Used as ornamentals, these trees get by with a yearly dressing of organic compost. If local soils are particularly poor, however, or if plants are being grown to be harvested, they will need to be fertilized with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer made for palms in springtime. Occasionally prune trees to remove dead palm fronds, taking care to not do any damage to the trunk. These palms can grow to be quite tall, so a professional tree maintenance service may be required to maintain safety in the garden. In climates with cool, dry winters, these palms are best grown in containers. This way, they can be brought indoors or into a greenhouse or other protected area over the cooler months of the year.
Growing Phoenix Palms Indoors
Place your palm in a spot in the home that gets as much light as possible. The ideal exposure for these palms is at least six hours of direct sun each day. Keep palms away from drafty areas; they prefer humid conditions and will not perform well indoors if they are exposed to too much cooling air, for example from a window or ventilation system. To increase humidity around the indoor palm, use a spray bottle to spritz it every once in a while. Ensure that soil is well-draining and amended with plenty of perlite, and that the container has adequate drainage holes on the bottom. Water regularly; irrigate whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. To increase soil moisture retention and regulate soil temperature, apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant in its pot, being sure to not allow the mulch to actually touch the trunk itself. When these palms are grown indoors, they do not typically produce any fruits, because they require more hot, sunny conditions to really thrive.
Harvesting Phoenix Dates
Dates are ready to pick when they are slightly soft, and start to turn brownish-purple. They emerge green, turning yellow to pinkish with time, and finally (after about a week from the previous color stage) to brown-purple. Individual fruits will ripen at different times, so dates will need to be checked regularly throughout the season and harvested in multiple batches. They are most commonly hand-picked, as they are best tasting when they are left to ripen on the tree. Alternatively, the entire bunch can be cut off of the tree, and let ripen in a warm room or in the sun. Ripe dates will pull easily off of its stem with little resistance. Once harvested, rinse dates and lay them out to dry for about 24 hours. Keep them at room temperature for a few days. They can then be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month in an airtight container or in the freezer for a year.
These plants do not necessarily require much in the way of fertilizing unless they are being grown for their edible fruits. Used as ornamentals, these trees get by with a yearly dressing of organic compost. If local soils are particularly poor, however, or if plants are being grown to be harvested, they will need to be fertilized with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer made for palms in springtime. Occasionally prune trees to remove dead palm fronds, taking care to not do any damage to the trunk. These palms can grow to be quite tall, so a professional tree maintenance service may be required to maintain safety in the garden. In climates with cool, dry winters, these palms are best grown in containers. This way, they can be brought indoors or into a greenhouse or other protected area over the cooler months of the year.
Growing Phoenix Palms Indoors
Place your palm in a spot in the home that gets as much light as possible. The ideal exposure for these palms is at least six hours of direct sun each day. Keep palms away from drafty areas; they prefer humid conditions and will not perform well indoors if they are exposed to too much cooling air, for example from a window or ventilation system. To increase humidity around the indoor palm, use a spray bottle to spritz it every once in a while. Ensure that soil is well-draining and amended with plenty of perlite, and that the container has adequate drainage holes on the bottom. Water regularly; irrigate whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. To increase soil moisture retention and regulate soil temperature, apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant in its pot, being sure to not allow the mulch to actually touch the trunk itself. When these palms are grown indoors, they do not typically produce any fruits, because they require more hot, sunny conditions to really thrive.
Harvesting Phoenix Dates
Dates are ready to pick when they are slightly soft, and start to turn brownish-purple. They emerge green, turning yellow to pinkish with time, and finally (after about a week from the previous color stage) to brown-purple. Individual fruits will ripen at different times, so dates will need to be checked regularly throughout the season and harvested in multiple batches. They are most commonly hand-picked, as they are best tasting when they are left to ripen on the tree. Alternatively, the entire bunch can be cut off of the tree, and let ripen in a warm room or in the sun. Ripe dates will pull easily off of its stem with little resistance. Once harvested, rinse dates and lay them out to dry for about 24 hours. Keep them at room temperature for a few days. They can then be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month in an airtight container or in the freezer for a year.
Propagation
Phoenix can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your palm, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Phoenix by Seed
Propagating Phoenix by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost, gloves and other protective wear (to prevent skin contact) and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in spring, and in some cases needs to be done every three to four years for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
Propagating Phoenix by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seeds of Phoenix plants contained inside of the date fruits produced by the palms. Once they have blackened and begun to drop from the tree in autumn, you can harvest the fruits. These fruits, because their skin is so thin, do not necessarily need to have their flesh removed before being sown.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 6-9 months from sowing (or longer). Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Propagating Phoenix by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost, gloves and other protective wear (to prevent skin contact) and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in spring, and in some cases needs to be done every three to four years for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
- Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the roots. Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
- Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section.
- Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divided palms and water thoroughly.
- Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout.
Phoenix palm trees produce fruits commonly called dates, which contain seeds.
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A single seed is contained inside of each fruit. They are commonly called date pits or kernels.
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Problems and Pests
Phoenix trees are not typically susceptible to many issues, though they can suffer from time to time from the following:
- Scale Insects
- Spider Mites
- Root Rot
Gallery
Here, Phoenix palms are planted alongside Croton, Cordyline, and Asparagus Fern.
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These palms are great in formal and informal gardens.
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Pygmy Date Palms make for wonderful privacy screening plants.
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Videos
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All about growing Pygmy Date Palms.
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Learn about Phoenix roebelinii.
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An introduction to Phoenix syvestris Palms.
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All about Phoneix canariensis Palms.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 500, Phoenix (Date Palm)
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