Phoenix dactylifera is the date palm, grown for the edible fruit and with over 300 named cultivars they are widely grown throughout the Middle East. Plant are grown from seed, from offshoots and by tissue culture.
The popular The varieties all have different characteristics, some are more chewy than others.
Phoenix dactylifera is said to be better in cold climates that P. canariensis however date palms are grown in central australia where they grow well in the hot climates but require irrigation to get good crops.
Cultivars include Phoenix dactylifera ‘Deglet Noor’, ‘Barhee’ and ‘Zahidi’ all having different fruit qualities
Although not as tall as some other palms they will still reach between 15 and 20m in height, a little taller in some conditions.
From offshoots they will take 2-3 years to begin fruiting and 4 – 5 years to produce good quantities.
Dates tree are either male trees that produce pollen or female trees that produce fruit. For good pollination, you will need at least 1 male tree for 20 female trees. Pollination is by wind in nature, but with commercial crops pollination is sometimes by hand. Pollen is collected and sprayed to increase fruit set.
Care
- annual prune
- de thorn
- remove old growth and old flower heads
- mulch to help provide moisture
Date Palms are available for sale from the following growers
Date Palms for the production of high quality dates. Over 20 varieties including selected pollinators. High yeilding and disease free trees. We send to all States except Tasmania.
www.gurradowns.com.au
email ask@plantmark.com.au
One of Australia's largest wholesale trade nurseries. Over 30,000 species available, tubestock to advanced trees, an almost unlimited choice of plants.
www.plantmark.com.au
Dwarf Date Palm
Phoenix roebelenii is a small growing palm to a height of approx 3m. Also know as the Pygmy Palm or Dwarf Date Palm Phoenix roebelenii will cope well with cooler conditions, as far south as Melbourne. They make an excellent plant for a tropical look near a swimming pool.
Grown as an indoor plant in commercial developments younger plants work well as houseplants, Phoenix roebelenii plants grow from a single trunk so they tend to look rather neat in the garden when planted this way, however they are also often planted in groups (always an odd number so 3 or 5 is a populay grouping) to give a multi trunked look.
Phoenix roebelenii Care and growing conditions
Indoors they cope well in pots or containers and are drought tolerant once established. The female plants produce a cream colored flower follewed by black fruit (dates).
Little care is required other than some extra water in dry periods, protection from frost is advisable. We suggest a liquid fertilizer, especially if grown in containers, try early spring and again in early summer. Phoenix roebelenii will need to be repotted every 3-4 years.
Old foliage can be pruned back or left to form a ‘skirt’. Like many palm trees Phoenix roebelenii do have spikes, so plant away from areas where this could be a problem.