Palm Tree “Phoenix dactylifera Or Date Palm” النخلة

Palm Tree, Phoenix dactylifera

Palm tree, Phoenix dactylifera or Date palm النخلة is tall, sometimes suckering plant producing a columnar trunk usually clad with old leaf bases, at least towards the top.

Leaves, 4-6m long, are composed of many linear, greyish green leaflets, the lowest ones reduced to spines, arranged in various planes giving a 3-dimensional effect.

Bowl-shaped cream flowers appear in long-stalked panicles, 1.5-2m long, in spring or summer.

Ellipsoid to cylindrical, edible, sweet, fleshy, yellow to reddish brown fruit, 2.5-7cm long, are very variable both in texture and flavor.

Care

Palm trees generally grow in full sun, but can tolerate some shade. Water newly planted trees deeply twice a week until they are established (2 to 3 months).

Palm trees are drought tolerant once they are established and rarely need watered. A good quality slow release fertilizer should be applied in early spring.

If your soil is lacking, feed your palm tree again in early fall.

Palm trees love food!

Deep watering prior to severe temperatures and adding a thick layer of mulch will help to protect the roots during severe freezing temperatures.

Pruning

Palm trees do not require pruning. But damaged foliage can be trimmed back for looks or to encourage new growth.

Trim the fronds back to where the stalk meets the trunk.

Prune with scissors or pruning shears for smaller trees and loppers or a pole saw for large Plants There will be foliage that dies back naturally.

This will not hurt your tree and may even encourage quicker regrowth. For indoor palm trees, trim back damaged foliage with scissors for a clean and tidy look.

Fertilization

Use special fertilizer. Click Here to check the fertilizer