|
Phoenix reclinata (Senegal Date Palm) - A tall multi-trunked feather palm to 30 feet tall or more and spreading as wide with graceful fairly slender (4- to 8-inches in diameter) light-gray trunks that curve outward and holding 10- to 20-foot long by 2- to 3-foot-wide green leaves at their tips. These leaves arch downward attractively with stiff leaflets at the base of the petioles become long narrow spines. It is a dioecious species with either male or female flowers with the females producing small date like fruits.
Plant in full sun and give regular irrigation to encourage it to grow rather quickly though once established is fairly drought tolerant and cold hardy to 28°F. A very attractive and graceful large palm that gives the look of a tropical oasis.
Phoenix reclinata is endemic to tropical and subtropical Africa, Madagascar, and the Comoros Islands where it is often found in wet riparian habitats but also grows on drier hillsides and grasslands. The name for the genus is Greek word for the "date palm" and the specific epithet is the Latin word meaning "leaning" or "reclining". This palm was planted around Santa Barbara in the late 1800s and there are great examples of it in parks and in public and private gardens around the town.
The information displayed on this page about Phoenix reclinata is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
|
