Robellini Palm Phoenix roebelenii
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- FEE-niks roh-bel-EN-ee-eye
- Description
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Pygmy Date Palm tree is a subtropical spreading palm in the Arecaceae (palm) family. Outdoors it grows to 6.5 feet high and 5 feet wide. As an indoor plant, it typically reaches 5 to 6 feet tall.
It has fine leaves, an attractive trunk and is suitable for use indoors in cooler climates. The fruits are purple drupes are produced on female plants and are edible.
Plant in moist well-drained soil and give it protection from the hot afternoon sun since this plant prefers medium to high light. Keep the soil slightly moist during the growing season but do not overwater as it can cause root rot. This plant prefers to be slightly root-bound and doesn't like frequent repotting. It also prefers medium humidity but has pest problems. Keep away from cold drafts in the winter.
Quick ID Hints:
- Odd pinnately compound leaves
- Leaflets at base of petiole reduced to fibers
- 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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Phoenix
- Species:
- roebelenii
- Family:
- Arecaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia
- Edibility:
- Drupes are edible.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 5 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
- Appendage:
- Spines
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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
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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.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- 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 interfoliar and branched once.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- 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 fibrous 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 hairs on the undersides.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Bark Description:
- Bark gray and rough and is covered with a distinctive peg-like leaf base.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are clustered, slender at the base, and expanding toward the crown.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
