Difference between revisions of "Phoenix reclinata"

Latest revision as of 20:33, 23 August 2015

Pronunciation: FEE-nix reh-clin-AH-tuh

Common Name: Senegal Date Palm; Wild Date Palm

Phoenix reclinata is one of the more common palms grown in California, due in part to it's being fairly available, but also because large, mature specimens are excellent landscape palms, actually worth enough money to be sold and transplanted (a rarity in the palm world in this state). However, as with most Phoenix, hybrids abound and this species can be seen as a very variable palm because of that. Some have stated that a pure Phoenix reclinata, as is found in its native Africa, is actually an extremely rare palm in California and that most of what are identified as such, actually have some other species complicating their genetics and appearance. Below's descriptions and photos will be of palms that are MOSTLY Phoenix reclinata in that case.

Appearance and Biology

Habit: clustering with crowns of 15-25 feather leaves
Height: 40'
Trunk: multiple; 10"-12" thick; either covered irregularly with leaf scars, or with retained, un-split leaf bases and some fibrous weave
Crownshaft: none
Spread: 10'-25'+
Leaf Description: pinnate; flat; often with a 90 degree twist; markedly arching; up to 14' long; heavily armed near the base with modified leaves that are long, pungent spines; bright to medium green; rachis yellow-green; NOTE: leaves that are plumose are felt to all be hybrid species
Petiole/Leaf bases: 1' long; pale green to yellow-green; un-split leaf bases retained on trunk for many years
Reproduction: dioecious
Inflorescence: 2'-3' long; from within leaves; arching; peduncles yellow-orange
Fruit: ovoid; 3/4" long; yellow-orange when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics

Minimum Temp: 23F
Drought Tolerance: good
Dry Heat Tolerance: very good
Cool Tolerance: good
Wind Tolerance: good
Salt Tolerance: moderate
Growth Rate: moderate
Soil Preference: adaptable
Light Requirement: full sun
Human Hazards: very spiny leaf bases, and leaflets somewhat spiny, too
Disease or Horticultural Problems: none in California
Transplants?: moderately tolerant
Indoor?: unlikely to be a good choice
Availability: fairly common

San Diego county, California
San Diego county
Huntington gardens near Pasadena, California
Disneyland, California
Orange County, California
Sherman Gardens, Orange county, California
San Barbara, California
Los Angeles arboretum, Arcadia, California
unripe fruits

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 |}
 <gallery>
+File:Phoenix reclinata 1 Ha.JPG|San Diego county, California
+File:Phoenix reclinata 2 Ha.JPG|San Diego county
+File:Phoenix reclinata boxed up huge H.jpg|Huntington gardens near Pasadena, California
+File:Phoenix reclinata clump.JPG|
+File:Phoenix reclinata Disney.JPG|Disneyland, California
+File:Phoenix reclinata droopy.jpg|
+File:Phoenix reclinata Hyatt.jpg|Orange County, California
+File:Phoenix reclinata SG.JPG|Sherman Gardens, Orange county, California
+File:PHoenix reclinata shot HU.jpg|
+File:Phoenix reclinata solitary SB.jpg|San Barbara, California
+File:Phoenix reclinata view .jpg|
+File:PHoenix reclinata closer larb.jpg|
+File:Phoenix recinata leaf.jpg|
+File:Phoenix reclinata base.JPG|
+File:Phoenix reclinata trunk bent.jpg|
+File:Phoenix reclinata fruiting larb.JPG|Los Angeles arboretum, Arcadia, California
+File:Phoenix reclinata infructescence from below.JPG|
+File:Phoenix reclinata unripe fruits.jpg|unripe fruits
 </gallery>
 [[Category: Phoenix]]

Difference between revisions of "Phoenix reclinata"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Latest revision as of 20:33, 23 August 2015