Wild Date Plum, India Date Palm
Phoenix sylvestris
Family: Arecaceae or Palmae
What it is like
Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Early spring, Late summer, Late spring, Mid summer, Mid spring. Form: Palm, Upright or erect.
Phoenix sylvestris is a TREE growing to 15 m (49ft 3in) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 15
Where it is found
Not known
E. Asia - Himalayas from western India to Nepal and Myanmar.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Fruit. Of a very inferior character. Sap - it can be concentrated into a syrup or fermented into alcohol. One of the main sources of sugar in Bengal. The sap is obtained from the unopened inflorescence. The tip of this is cut off and the sap then flows from this cut. The flow can be up to 5 litres a day for several months, it contains about 14% sugar. See also .
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
How it is grown
Landscape Uses:Specimen, Street tree. Requires an open sunny position. One of the most frost-hardy members of the genus. 200555. Special Features: Not North American native, Attractive flowers or blooms.
Propagating it:
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;
Habit: Tree
Hardiness: 9-11
Growth: Slow
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist