the genus
PHOENIX

From the Latin form of the Greek word for “date palm”.

Subfamily: Coryphoideae
Tribe: Phoeniceae

Phoenix includes 17 species and is the only genus in the tribe Phoeniceae.

The genus includes 17 species of pinnate-leaved palms commonly known as Date Palms, native to Africa, the Canary Islands, Crete, Turkey, the Middle East, Asia, India, China, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The best known species are the True Date, P. dactylifera, cultivated since ancient times for its fruits, and P. canariensis, the Canary Island Date Palm, popularly planted around the world as an ornamental tree along avenues and in gardens. ‘Deglet Noor’, ‘Zahidi’, and ‘Medjool’ are select varieties of P. dactylifera propagated by suckers to assure uniform fruit production. Of these, ‘Medjool’ is particularly ornamental, with dense crowns of silvery-blue leaves. Some species of Phoenix develop solitary stems (i.e. P. canariensis, P. sylvestris); others produce suckers or branches from their trunks, usually more or less near the base (i.e. P. dactylifera, P. reclinata, and some forms of P. roebelenii as in Reisnerii Clustering). Trunks may be short (P. acaulis) or tall (P. dactylifera), elegantly slender (P. roebelenii), or stout and heavy (P. canariensis), and are invariably decorated with the attractive diamond pattern of leaf scarring typical for the genus Phoenix. Species of Phoenix are dioecious, so both male and female trees are needed to produce fruit. Where dates are cultivated commercially the flowers of the male P. dactylifera are carried by hand to pollinate the female fruits and assure production. Fossil evidence of P. dactylifera has been found in Texas.

Culture: Species of Phoenix accept sun or light shade and will tolerate drought. Good drainage is essential.

Phoenix canariensis
Common Name: Canary Island Date Palm
Cold Tolerance: 18F (-8C) USDA Zones: 8b-11

Typical Height: 40' Growth Rate: Slow
Habit: Solitary

Status: In Stock
Available Range: 15–300gal. B&B 1’–30’CT

Phoenix dactylifera
Common Name: Date Palm
Cold Tolerance: 18F (-8C) or as low as 14F (-10C) under dry conditions.
USDA Zones: 8b-11

Typical Height: 70' Growth Rate: Slow
Habit: Slowly Clustering

Status: In Stock
Available Range: 45–300gal. B&B 1’–35’CT
Cultivars of Phoenix dactylifera include:
“Barhi”, “Daryri”, “Deglet Noor”, “Halawi”, “Khadrawi”, “Zahidi”, among which “Medjool” and “Zahidi” are best suited for Gulf Coast humidity.

Phoenix reclinata
Common Name: Senegal Date Palm
Cold Tolerance: 22F (-6C) USDA Zones: 9-11

Typical Height: 25'-30' Growth Rate: Moderate
Habit: Clustering

Status: In Stock
Available Range: 65–200gal. 4’–8’OA

Phoenix roebelenii
Common Name: Pygmy Date Palm
Cold Tolerance: 24F (-5C) USDA Zones: 9-11

Typical Height: 10'-15' Growth Rate: Slow
Habit: Clustering

Status: In Stock, single & multiple trunks
Available Range: 15–300gal. B&B 3’–8’CT

Phoenix sylvestris
Common Name: Indian Date Palm
Cold Tolerance: 18F (-8C) USDA Zones: 9-11

Typical Height: 40' Growth Rate: Slow
Habit: Solitary

Status: In Stock
Available Range: 65–200gal. B&B 2’–10’CT

Other species of Phoenix :
P. rupicola, P. theophrasti and various Phoenix hybrids such as P. reclinata x roebelenii, P. canariensis x reclinata, P. canariensis x roebelenii and P. reclinata x theophrasti (on request)