True Date Palm
Trees, Phoenix dactylifera, Overview
All though there are many Palm Trees we call
Date Palms, Phoenix dactylifera is the True Date
Palm Tree. The True Date has:
- A broad gray trunk patterned with diamond-shape
leafs up to 16 inches in diameter.
- Large (18-20 feet long by 2 feet wide) greenish
or bluish -gray pinnate leaves forming a bushy
canopy up to 40 feet wide.
- Leaves which are composed of 1 to 2 foot
long leaflets arranged in V-shape ranks the
length of the leaf stem.
Date Palm Description
Although there are many palms that we call "date
palms" (i.e. pygmy date palm, Canary Island date
palm, etc.) Phoenix dactylifera is the true date
palm from which the tasty fruit is obtained. The
date palm is a suckering palm that is usually pruned
to have only one trunk. Trimmed in this manner the
Date Palm will grow to heights of 100 feet. Leaflets
near the base are modified into 3-4 inch spines. Usually the trunk of the date palm is topped by a single crown comprising the fronds, the terminal bud, and the date clusters. All these elements are tightly interlaced at the base of the crown, which is protected by layers of tough, intertwined brown fibers. Cutting off the terminal bud will kill the date palm even if the whole tree is not cut down. Each frond, measuring up to 4-5 m in length, has three parts: the spatulate base, attached to the trunk; the strong, spiny stalk and midrib, 1-2 m long; and the pinnate section, or leaflets, about 40 cm long.
The yellow-orange to red fruit, called 'dates';,
are oblong and about 1.5 inches in length. They
consist of a large pointed seed surrounded by sweet
sugary flesh. Dates are formed from flowers on 4
foot inflorescences that emerge from among the leaves
in Crown and terminal bud. Male and female flowers grow on separate
plants. Only female plants produce dates and only
if a male tree is nearby. Dates are not formed in
climates that are too cool.
Date Palm Tree Usage
The Date palm is spectacular for landscaping large areas. In recent years many commercial date farms in the western U.S. have closed due to a number of economic pressures. As a result large specimens are available at very competitive prices, even when shipped to Florida. As I write this a half dozen date palms were installed at the entrance to a new building in our office complex - in my opinion complementing the modernistic architecture of these structures beautifully. Date Palm Tree are also frequently seen guarding the entrances to upscale housing developments and standing in regiments along boulevards.
|
True Date Palm Small - $ 89.95
Retail Price: 107.94 You Save: $17.99
True Date Palm Medium - $ 329.95
Retail Price: 395.94 You Save: $65.99
Date Palm v. True Date Large - $ 1399.95
Retail Price: 1679.94 You Save: $279.99
Other Cold Hardy Palms you might be interested in:
True Date Palms (Phoenix dactylifera)
(Sabal mexicana)
(Butia capitata)
(Cycas revoluta)
|