Pronunciation: FEE-nix thee-oh-FRASS-tee
Common Name: Cretan Date Palm
Phoenix theophrasti is probably one of the oldest species of Phoenix, is likely the original fruiting date palm. This Mediterranean species is an attractive but incredibly spiny, dangerous palm. Left to sucker as it does naturally, it forms huge, impenetrable thickets of blue-green foliage. But many find it worth it thanks to the ornamental black and yellow leaf bases and bright orange inflorescences, along with the blue-green foliage.
|
Appearance and Biology
- Habit: clustering with a crown of 30-50 spiny plumose leaves
- Height: 50' estimate
- Trunk: multiple; 16" thick; often covered with un-split retained leaf bases for many years
- Crownshaft: none
- Spread: 20'+
- Leaf Description: pinnate; plumose; leaflets in 4-5 planes; blue-grey to blue-green; leaflets very stiff, ending in a very pungent point that penetrate most clothing; leaf bases extremely well armed with thick, stiff, modified leaf bases 4"-6" long; proximal rachis and most what little petiole there is black; most of rachis yellowy-green; arching slightly; 12' long
- Petiole/Leaf bases: 4"-6" long; wide and very stiff; un-split; black
- Reproduction: dioecious
- Inflorescence: bright orange; 2' long; from within leaves; branched with a short peduncle
- Fruit: ovoid; 3/4" long; pale peach turning to brown when ripe
|
Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 18F
- Drought Tolerance: very good
- Dry Heat Tolerance: very good
- Cool Tolerance: good
- Wind Tolerance: good
- Salt Tolerance: moderate
- Growth Rate: slow to moderate with age
- Soil Preference: adaptable
- Light Requirement: full sun
- Human Hazards: extremely hazardous, spiny palm- use eye protection if going to prune or transplant
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: none
- Transplants?: moderately tolerant
- Indoor?: poor choice
- Availability: rare
|
Huntington Gardens near Pasadena, California- all photos of same palms unless otherwise noted
University of California at Berkeley, northern California
juvenile palm in southern California high desert
