Phoenix Canariensis Seeds (Canary Island Date Palm Seeds)

Phoenix Canariensis, also called Canary Island Date Palm is native to the Canary Islands. These stately palms are popular landscape items in near frost-free climates around the world. The Canary Island Date palm is regarded as one of the world's most beautiful and majestic trees, and is an ideal specimen for transplanting. Massive and imposing, this palm is the center of attention wherever it is planted. Growing up to 60' tall, the thick, hulking trunk can reach 3 ft in diameter. It is covered with interesting diamond designs that mark the point of attachment of the leaves. This palm has a large crown, up to 40 ft large, of over 50 huge, leathery, alternate leaves that may reach 20' long, arching gracefully. The feathery pinnate leaves have 150-299 leaflets each and the individual leaflets are lance - shaped, 12 to 18 inches long, with the lower half of the petiole covered with 2 - 3 inch sharp spines. These leaves are shiny deep green, shading to a yellow stem where the leaflets are replaced by vicious spines. In areas of high rainfall, these palms are often seen with ferns growing from among the old leaf stems. Decomposing leaf litter and other fibrous matter collect there creating absorbent compost that sword ferns love, forming a hanging garden just below the palm's canopy. The dioecious flowers are born on dense, hanging (many-branched) 12-18 inches long clusters. They are creamy yellow - white, opening from a husk-like structure, appearing periodically throughout the year. Mature palms produce bunches of cream, bowl-shaped flowers in summer which are followed by small, brown fruit. The dates are very decorative. The fruit is a fleshy drupe, elliptical, about 1/2 to 1 inch long, orange - brown to dark purple. They ripen in the summer and are considered edible, although they taste terrible. The seeds are 1 to 1.5 inches long, with its end more rounded than other date seeds. Hardiness zones : 9-11 (-5c/25f, 4c/40f). This palm is very slow growing when young. Once the trunk reaches its full diameter the growth rate increases. Fertilize it in spring and summer. It is tolerant of most well drained soils, but you must keep the lawn grasses and mulch away from its trunk. Use light, fast draining soil mix when growing it in containers. Young plants are very susceptible to leaf spot and other fungus infections; witch can be treated with fungicide spray, when grown in humid climates. This is a spectacular palm for landscaping large areas but can also be used in confined areas in urban landscapes. Plant in a deep pot that provides plenty of room for the taproot and provide plenty of light. This palm is frost and drought tolerant and looks best when planted in full sun. Don't place young palms too close to walkways where their sharp leaf spines might injure passersby.