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Phoenix roebelenii

Phonetic Spelling
FEE-niks roh-bel-EN-ee-eye
Description

Pygmy date palm is a tropical, evergreen perennial in the palm family (Arecaceae). It grows along fast-moving rivers in southern China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. 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 honors Carl Roebelen, a plant collector in the employ of the orchid nursery Sanders of St. Alben, England, who brought the palm to the attention of botanists.  

Plant in moist, well-drained potting mix and give it protection from the hot afternoon sun since this plant prefers medium to high light. Keep the growing medium slightly moist during the growing season but do not overwater as doing so can cause root rot. This plant prefers to be slightly root-bound and does not need frequent repotting. It also prefers medium to high humidity. Keep away from cold drafts in the winter. 

In nature, this palm is clustering and forms suckers at its base. Curiously, most cultivated individuals do not sucker, but growers frequently put three or five plants in one pot to make a fuller specimen. As they grow, trunks will gracefully arch away from one another. Outdoors it grows to 6.5 feet high and 5 feet wide. As an indoor plant, it typically reaches only 5 to 6 feet tall. It has soft, fine-textured foliage, but like all date palms, the lower leaflets are modified into very sharp spines. Use caution when handling the leaves. The fruits are purple drupes that are produced on female plants and are edible. 

This palm is a popular landscape palm in warm climates. Elsewhere the palm can be grown as houseplant. It can spend the summers outside in a shady patio as long as it is brought inside when cold weather approaches. 

Quick ID Hints:

  • Pinnately compound leaves with basal leaflets modified to sharp spines.
  • Leaflets are folded lengthwise into an upright V-shape.
  • Leaflets are long and softly drooping at tips.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Susceptible to scales and leaf spot.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#houseplant#slow growing#showy leaves#palm#spines#edible fruits#fantz#tropical palm#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#container plant#patio
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#houseplant#slow growing#showy leaves#palm#spines#edible fruits#fantz#tropical palm#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#container plant#patio
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Phoenix
    Species:
    roebelenii
    Family:
    Arecaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Indo-China
    Distribution:
    Cultivated worldwide.
    Edibility:
    Drupes are edible.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 5 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Houseplant
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Tree
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
    Appendage:
    Spines
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    1/2 inch ellipsoidal drupe resembles a thin-skinned date. It is red-brown to dark purple when mature. The fruit is produced on female plants only.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Flower Description:
    Cream-colored male and female flowers are found on separate trees (dioecious) in the spring. Flowers are produced on 1-foot-long panicles that are among the leaves and branched once.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The odd pinnately compound leaves are 24-45 inches long with around 100 leaflets. Pinnae is linear lanceolate, gray-green, drooping, and lowermost are reduced to spines. Each leaflet is 6-10 inches long and 1/2 inch wide and slightly droops from the stem. Spines are present at the leaf bases. They are gray-green in color with scales on the undersides.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Gray
    Bark Description:
    Bark gray and rough and is covered with distinctive peg-like leaf-bases.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems are clustered, slender at the base, and expanding toward the crown.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Small groups
    Small Tree
    Specimen
    Understory Tree
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Heat
    Humidity