Date Palm

Names Date Palm, True Date Palm, Majule, Zahidi
Scientific Name Phoenix dactylifera
Hardiness Zones 9-11
Mature Height Up to 90 feet
Growth Average Speed
Flower None
Blooms Average water needs
Water Requirements Plentiful during establishment but fairly drought tolerant once mature.
Cold Tolerance Cold Hardy to 26-28 degrees
Light Requirements Prefers full sun.
Price Point Mature trees are expensive
Salt Tolerance Salt tolerant back from the front line dunes
Italian Cypress Surrounding a Palm
Date Palm – Click to Enlarge

Date palms have been cultivated for thousands of years. The tree’s small, sweet and sugary fruit is an important food source in desert and tropical regions around the globe. This magnificent tree grows well in Miami and is an awe-inspiring landscape element.

The date palm has a broad brownish-gray trunk patterned with diamond-shaped leaf scars. The crown can grow as large as 30 feet wide and is composed of up to 120 long gray-green or blue-green fronds that fall attractively in a bushy, v-shaped display. The flowers bloom on eye-catching inflorescences that emerge among the leaves. Female date palms bear fruit only if planted near a male tree. Dates first appear between five and eight years. The fruit is reddish brown when ripe.

Date palms can grow to 100 feet in height, although most cultivated specimens top out between 40 and 50 feet. This height, along with the girth of the trunk and the span of the crown makes date palms popular in commercial landscaping. They are often seen planted in rows along avenues or in groups as gatekeepers at beachside resorts or housing developments.

Alone or in pairs, this striking tree makes a stunning addition to contemporary home gardens.