Common Name: Date Palm

General Information

Phoenix dactylifera is a single-stemmed, evergreen palm tree growing 15 - 40 metres tall. The unbranched stem is topped by a terminal crown of 100 - 120 leaves that can each be 4 - 7 metres long on a short stem up to 50cm long[, ].
The date palm is one of the longest cultivated plants in the world, having been grown at least 5,000 years ago[]. It is an enormously important crop in many dry tropical and subtropical areas, where its fruit often forms a staple food for long periods of the year[, ]. The plant is also widely exploited for many other purposes and, outside its natural arid zone, is commonly grown as an ornamental even though it may not fruit[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Original range is unknown.

Habitat

The tree has been cultivated for so long that it is not known in a truly wild situation.

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental

Cultivation Details

Date palm is a plant of drier areas in the tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres. Hot dry conditions are required for free fruiting, the fruit not forming very readily in cooler or moister climates[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 26 - 45°c, but can tolerate 10 - 52°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -15°c, but the leaves and young growth can be severely damaged at -4°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 200 - 300mm, but tolerates 100 - 400mm[]. The tree transpires large quantities of moisture and the amount of available rainfall is often little, or entirely absent in the production areas. The water requirement of the palm must be provided for by ground water (the roots of the tree can reach 2 - 6 metres deep) or by irrigation[].
Plants are tolerant of a range of soil types[], so long as they are well-drained[]. Plants grow well in full sun, even when small[]. Tolerant of salty soils, though fruit quality might be adversely affected[, ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 8, tolerating 6 - 8.5[].
The plant has escaped from cultivation and become established as a weed on several Pacific Islands, including Hawaii[].
Seedlings begin to develop a stem when about 4 - 5 years old and will usually start flowering soon afterwards[].
Plants propagated from suckers can commence fruiting within 2 - 4 years and normally reach full production at 5 - 8 years, although productivity may increase up to 9 - 15 years[].
Pollination is critical for good fruiting; therefore, pollen is usually artificially introduced to the female flowers by cutting a male inflorescence and placing it strategically within a female inflorescence - this may be thinned a little to accommodate it. It is important that male trees are planted with females in ratios of about 1:50 in order to provide sufficient pollen[].
An average well-managed palm can produce about 60 - 70 kilos of fresh dates per year[].
Commercially, yields of dates are often restricted to about 50 kilos per tree in order to ensure high quality, though yields of 100 kilos have been recorded[].
Yields decline after 40 - 50 years, but the tree will continue to produce until about the age of 75 years[].
When fruit yields are poor, the tree is often tapped for its sap. The yield varies with management and site conditions, but it is in the range of 4 - 8 litres per day[].
There are many named forms[].
Phoenix species are quite liable to hybridize where the various species meet as a result of cultivation[].
A dioecious species, at least one male plant for every 6 females is necessary to ensure fertilization[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. The fruit is often dried and then eaten raw or used to add sweetness to a variety of foods such as cakes, fruit pies, confectionary etc[, ]. The fruit is about 5cm long, 2.5cm in diameter, produced in clusters that can be as large as 1,500 fruits[].

Male inflorescence - eaten as a delicacy[].

Pollen is eaten[].

Wherever fruiting is poor, the sap is tapped and becomes the main product from the tree[]. It can be drunk fresh, fermented and drunk as toddy, or distilled and drunk as the spirit 'arrack'[].

The apical bud is sweet and can be eaten as a vegetable (palm cabbage)[].

Medicinal

Date fruits are demulcent, expectorant and laxative. They are used to treat respiratory diseases and fevers[].


The tree yields a gum that is used in treating diarrhoea[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Being a salt-tolerant species, the date has been used for decades for the revegetation of salt affected lands in the Mediterranean region[].
Whilst young, date trees occupy a lot of space, so a decision to introduce it into cultivated fields must be taken carefully. But once mature, the wide crown grows high above the field crops, and it little affects the yield of cultivated crops. In many places, numerous palms are found in arable fields of suitable regions[].

Other Uses

The leaves are widely used for a variety of purposes. They make an excellent thatch, being used to make roofs and walls of huts.

A fibre obtained from the leaves, base of the leaves and bark can be used to make ropes, baskets, hats and mats[, , ].
A fibre obtained from the leaf petiole, combined with other suitable material, is used for making insulating boards[].

Dried leaves, with their stiff, woody rachis, are used for fencing[].

An extract of the fruit is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as an emollient[].
Both the fruit juice and the powdered fruit are used as ingredienst in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].
An extract of the leaves is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin protector and masking agent[].
The seeds are used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a moisturizer and skin conditioner[].

The wood in the outer portion of the stem is strong and resistant to termites[]. It is much valued for use in construction[, , ].
The stems are used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in warm water and sow in containers. Germination usually takes place in 2 - 3 months[].
Seed viability can be maintained for 8 - 15 years at room temperature[].
Division of suckers[]. Pot up immediately into large containers and plant into permanent positions once the plant is established[].

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