Canary Island Date Palm
Phoenix canariensis
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
Phoenix canariensis is an evergreen Tree growing to 12 m (39ft) by 8 m (26ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
Height (m): 12
Where it is found
Found at elevations from sea level to 1,200m in a range of habitats, from humid areas just below cloud forest to semi-arid areas where its presence usually indicates groundwater.
Endemic to the Canary Islands found at elevations from sea level to 1,200m. This palm is naturalised across the world through its use as an ornamental plant.
Conservation Status: Status: Least Concern
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Canary Islands*, East Africa, Europe, Greece, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Mediterranean, North America, Pakistan, SE Asia, South America, Spain, Tasmania
How it is used
Food
Rating: 3
Edible Portion: Fruit, Sap. Fruit weigh 1.7 g. The fruit are reported to have an edible outer pericarp. The fruit are orange, 2 cm long and 1 cm diameter, with a large seed; the fruit pulp when ripe (solid black) is edible, but usually too thin to be worth eating. They are a famine food. Inflorescence buds are tapped for the sweet sap which is eaten as syrup or palm honey. Carbon Farming Solutions - Staple Crop: sugar (The term staple crop typically refers to a food that is eaten routinely and accounts for a dominant part of people's diets in a particular region of the world).
Sweetener: includes sugar substitutes.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 2
A very ornamental tree - it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. The leaflets are used in much the same way as those of P. dactylifera for a range of woven products including crosses for Palm Sunday celebrations.
Basketry: Plant used in making baskets and other items such as chairs. Includes plants that are only used as an ornamental addition.
Fencing: Plants that can be used for fencing.
Fibre: Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.
Thatching: Used for making thatched roofs.
Weaving: Items such as grass and palm leaves that are woven together for making mats, baskets etc. See also Basket making and Fibre.
Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
Staple Crop: Sugar: Perennial sugar crops include sugarcane and compare favorably to annuals.
Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
Staple Crop: Sugar: Perennial sugar crops include sugarcane and compare favorably to annuals.
Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.
Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.
How it is grown
Climate: Mediterranean. Humidity: semi-arid. Found at elevations from sea level to 1,200m in a range of habitats, from humid areas just below cloud forest to semi-arid areas where its presence usually indicates groundwater. Cultivated in wet-winter or Mediterranean climates, but also in wet-summer or humid subtropical climates like eastern Australia and the southeastern United States. Examples in high-latitude oceanic climates, such as Ireland, the UK, and the Channel Islands. It can be cultivated where temperatures rarely fall below -10°C (14 or 10 °F). Light: Full Sun. USDA Hardiness Zone 8a: to -12.2°C (10 °F) to 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F). Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping. It is very frost hardy and thrives on poor soils. It needs good drainage. Soil pH requirements: 6.1 (mildly acidic) to 7.8 (mildly alkaline). Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation). Normal height range 10–20m (33–66 ft) tall; some specimens have reached 40m (130 ft).
Propagating it: Plants are grown from seed. Seed germinates readily. It takes 1-2 months to germinate. In tropical locations suckers can be used.
Best place to grow:
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 8-11
Growth: Slow
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist
Things to keep in mind
Spines or sharp edges
Phoenix canariensis is an invasive plant. It is listed as invasive in California. In Auckland, New Zealand, the palm has itself become a host for the naturalised Australian strangler fig, Ficus macrophylla.
Its other names
Local names
Canary Island palm, Canary Island date palm, date palm, phoenix palm, Pineapple Palm, Canary Date Palm, Slender Date Palm, Palem korma kannari
Synonyms
Phoenix canariensis var. porphyrococca Vasc. & Franco. Phoenix cycadifolia Regel. Phoenix dactylifera var. jubae Webb & Berthel. Phoenix erecta Sauv. [Invalid]. Phoenix jubae (Webb & Berthel.) Webb ex Christ. Phoenix macrocarpa Sauv. [Invalid]. Phoenix tenuis Verschaff. [Invalid]. Phoenix vigieri Naudin.