Canary Island Date Palm Phoenix canariensis

The Canary Island Date Palm is a slow-growing, evergreen tree in the palm family (Arecaceae) that is native to the Canary Islands. Phoenix is the genus of the date palms. The meaning of the generic name is much-debated but likely honors Phoenicia, an ancient civilization from the eastern Mediterranean, where date palms were widely cultivated.  The species epithet means "from the Canary Islands."

This plant prefers full sun with afternoon shade and moist, well-drained, rich loam soil or potting mix with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Once established it is drought tolerant. It is also salt spray tolerant and a perfect specimen for coastal settings. The tree is hardy to USDA Zones 9 to 11. It is intolerant of temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit that can cause damage to the leaves or death of the tree. The plant will naturalize where conditions are appropriate and is considered weedy in some areas of California and Australis. It is propagated by seed. 

The trees grow up to 40 to 60 feet tall and 20 to 40 feet wide. On mature trees, the trunk is stout, columnar, up to 2 or 3 feet in diameter, and grayish brown with diamond-shaped leaf base scars. The crown of the tree has up to 100 arching leaves that are up to 15 feet in length. Each leaf has 80 to 100, narrow, lance-shaped leaflets that are 12 to 18 inches long that are displayed on both sides of a central rachis. There are 2- to 8-inch-long spines on the lower portion of the petiole. These spines are very sharp and frequently injure arborists and workers handling the leaves. Adequate personal protection equipment (including eye protection) is strongly recommended before attempting to prune the leaves. The flowers are creamy-yellow and are displayed as drooping panicles that are up to 3 to 4 feet long and bloom on both the male and female trees. The female tree produces clusters of 1-inch long, yellow-orange, date-like fruits. The ornamental fruits are edible, but they do not have a pleasant taste. 

The Canary Island Date Palm is popular in warm climates and can be found as a street tree, accent, or specimen. Considering its mature size, it needs a large space for planting. In colder climates, it is an excellent houseplant or container plant. It is more compact when grown in a container. The plant could be enjoyed outside on a patio during the warmer months, and then brought indoors over the cold winter. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for mealybugs, scale, and thrips. Spider mites are problematic for container plants. Leaf spot, rots, and lethal yellowing can occur. If the plant is overwatered, the leaf tips will blacken. If underwatered, the plant's leaves will droop.