Alphabetical Plant Listing

Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm)

Canary Island Date Palm, Canary Date Palm, Slender Date Palm


Slow-growing, Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm) is a majestic evergreen palm tree with a stout trunk topped with a rich green, rounded crown with up to 100 gracefully arching featherlike fronds. Each compound pinnate leaf is up to 15 ft. long (450 cm), and divided into many linear leaflets. The thick and massive columnar trunk, up to 2-3 ft. across (60-90 cm) on mature trees, is gray-brown and embossed with diamond-shaped leaf bases. Creamy-yellow flowers are produced in drooping panicles, up to 3-4 ft. long (90-120 cm) on male and female trees. The flowers on female palms give way to showy clusters of reddish-yellow datelike fruits, 1 in. long (2.5 cm), during the warm months. Easy to grow, Canary Island Date Palm is drought and salt tolerant. It also tolerates significant winter cold but may suffer frond damage when temperatures dip to 18°F (-8°C). One of the most recognizable and widespread palm trees in warm temperate regions of the world, it makes a great street tree, specimen palm, and accent plant. Terrific in containers where the plant tends to remain compact for a long time. Perfect for seacoast conditions.

  • Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Grows with an upright habit up to 40-60 ft. tall (12-18 m) and 20-40 ft. wide (6-12 m). This plant will naturalize in optimum growing conditions.
  • Easily grown in fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates light shade. Drought tolerant once established.
  • Canary Island Date Palm performs very well in containers. Resembling a pineapple, it thrives in a loam-based compost in full sun with some afternoon shade. When in growth water moderately and feed with a balanced fertilizer once a month. Water sparingly in winter.
  • No serious disease or pest issues. Keep an eye out for glasshouse red spider mite, thrips, mealybugs and scale insects.
  • Needs no regular pruning, but dead leaves may be removed by cutting close to the leaf base leaving stubs to create a neat pattern.
  • Propagate by seed sown at not less than 77°F (25ºC).
  • This plant is considered to be invasive in southern California where it has invaded watercourses, orchards and coastlines.
  • Native to the Canary Islands.

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Requirements

Hardiness 9 – 11
Heat Zones 10 – 12
Climate Zones 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Palms - Cycads
Plant Family Phoenix - Date Palms, Palms - Cycads
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 40' – 60' (12m – 18m)
Spread 20' – 40' (6m – 12m)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Drought, Salt
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Mediterranean Garden

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123rf,  Olga Ilinich, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 9 – 11
Heat Zones 10 – 12
Climate Zones 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Palms - Cycads
Plant Family Phoenix - Date Palms, Palms - Cycads
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 40' – 60' (12m – 18m)
Spread 20' – 40' (6m – 12m)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Loam
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Drought, Salt
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Mediterranean Garden

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Palms - Cycads

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