Medjool Date Palm

Botanical Name: Phoenix dactylifera

Native Region/Environment: Likely Mesopotamia or the Persian Gulf.  Fossilized date palms are 50 million years old so a single point of origin is challenging. 

Sun/Light: Full sun. Hardiness zone 8-12, flourishing in California to New Mexico and eastward to Florida and South Carolina.

Temperature: Light frost may be acceptable , but a heavy frost will result in damage and they are not freeze tolerant.

Water: Seedlings are water sensitive until established at 2 years old, then they are drought tolerant and only require supplemental irrigation during prolonged periods of excessive heat or low rainfall.

Soil: Well drained alkaline soil of pH 8-11.   The soil should have ability to maintain moisture but be free of calcium carbonate.

Growth Pattern: Grown singularly or as a multi trunked clump of several planted together.  They are dioecious-meaning there are male and female plants.  One male is capable of fertilizing  many, many females to produce fruit. They are single trunked plant with a crowning habit of fronds, 13'-20' long.  They are not a self cleaning palm and require shearing of old fronds.

Mature Size: Able, as a single palm under optimal conditions to grow to 80'-100', and live for a hundred years despite being a very slow grower. a mature crown may span 20'-30' or more.

Attributes: Prized by palm tree enthusiasts and date lovers, capable of producing fruit 2, or even, 3 times in a year, and its mildly cold hardy, at least to zone 8.

Attractor: A regal specimen palm with a little maintenance.  Retain a clean look by cutting the dead fronds, typically in a 'diamond cut' pattern which dramatically adds to a landscaped appearance.