Cretan date palm
Phoenix theophrasti
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A suckering palm. It grows 12 m tall. It can have one or several slender main trunks. They often branch near the base. The branches have a crown or large leaves. The leaves are silvery green. They are divided into leaflets along the stalk. These leaflets are narrow and taper. There are spines on the leaf bases. The flowers grow among the leaf bases. They are in branched arrangements which arch over. The flowers are greenish-yellow. The fruit occur in large clusters. They are brown when ripe. They are like small dates and 14-16 mm long.
It is now a rare and protected plant.
Where it is found
It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in colonies on beaches and rocky, sandy areas. It suits hot dry conditions. It may tolerate some cold. It suits a desert climate.
Countries/locations it is found in
Antigua and Barbuda, Crete, Europe, Greece, Mediterranean, Turkey, Türkiye
How it is used for food
The fruit are edible but not attractive.
Edible parts
Fruit, seeds
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. Seed germinate easily and quickly.
It is fast growing.