Phoenix dactylifera - Date palm

This date palm is a real eye-catcher. It looks a bit like the Phoenix canariensis but is clearly different. The canariensis has a somewhat fuller leaf, and the leaves of the date palm are a bit thinner.

Frequently asked questions, FAQ

How fast does the Phoenix dactylifera grow?

A large dactylifera grows faster than a young one, which happens especially in the summer period. In winter when it is cold, dactyliferas go to sleep, then they hardly grow unless they are kept warm. A smaller dactylifera of e.g. 140cm, of which the stem is about 40-50cm, grows by about 10cm per year. And even smaller dactyliferas even less. So it comes down to the size of the dactylifera and the environment, how fast it grows.

How high does the Phoenix dactylifera date palm get?

A dactylifera grows up to 10 meters high, in the tropics, but in the Netherlands they sometimes don't get higher than 2 meters, unless they are imported and have undergone a special process to get used to our climate. Mind you, in the young years a dactylifera grows very slowly. Only after a few years it starts to grow.

Date palm Phoenix dactylifera, how often water?

In the winter period in the cold, a dactylifera can do without water for up to a week, and then it shouldn't get too much even. But the warmer the weather and the more sunlight, the more water it needs. During the hottest days, a dactylifera may need to be soaked twice a day.

Phoenix dactylifera, when pruning?

Throughout the year the leaves of the dactylifera can become barren. As soon as they are too barren for the palm to look beautiful, they can be cut off at the trunk with pruning shears. In this way the dactylifera forms its trunk.

Phoenix dactylifera, when to sow?

We recommend sowing the dactylifera outdoors around spring. Indoors the period does not matter.

The Phoenix dactylifera is planted on a large scale because of its edible fruits, the dates. This planting has been going on for thousands of years. Because of this, the original distribution area is not exactly known. Probably this is South-West Asia or North Africa.

The plant grows up to 15-25 metres high, with several stems growing from a single root system. The leaves are composed and can grow up to 3 metres long. Such a composed leaf consists of about 150 leaflets, each about 30 cm long and 2 cm wide.