Canary Island Date Palm
Phoenix canariensis

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A large palm. It has a single, stout woody trunk. It grows to 20 m tall. The trunk can be 70 cm across. There is a diamond pattern of leaf scars down the trunk. The crown can have 100 leaves. The fronds are long and dull green. Leaves can be 6 m long. They are divided into leaflets along the stalk. The fronds are spiny at the base. The leaflets are directed upwards and forward. The flowering stalks are produced among the leaf bases. The flowers are creamy yellow. Male and female trees are needed for fruit. The fruit occur in large clusters. They are a golden colour. They grow among the leaves. The fruit are 2 cm long and 1 cm across.

There are 17 Phoenix species. The seeds contain a fat.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate plant. It will tolerate hot dry conditions in inland Australia. It is very frost hardy and thrives on poor soils. It needs good drainage. In the Canary Island it grows to 700 m altitude. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. In Hobart Botanical gardens. It suits plant hardiness zones 8-11. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Algeria, Andes, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bermuda, Bolivia, Canada, Canary Islands (country/location of origin), Central America, Colombia, East Africa, Ecuador, Europe, Greece, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mediterranean, Norfolk Is., North America, Pakistan, SE Asia, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Tasmania, Tunisia

How it is used for food

The fruit are reported to have an edible outer pericarp. They are a famine food. The sap can be used for syrup or palm honey.

Edible parts

Fruit, sap

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed germinates readily. It takes 1-2 months to germinate. In tropical locations suckers can be used.

Fruit weigh 1.7 g.

Its other names

Local names

Kanarska dateljnova palma, Palem korma kannari

Synonyms

Phoenix cycadifolia Regel; Phoenix dactylifera var. jubae Webb. & Berthel.; Phoenix jubae (Webb & Berthel.) Webb ex Christ; Phoenix vigieri Naudin; and others