This delightful little palm is a favorite landscape item in areas where it is hardy. It is just as likely to be encountered as a popular indoor container plant often used in shopping mallscapes and other commercial plantings. Pygmy date palm grow slowly reaching heights of 8-10 ft. The stem is covered with old leaf bases and is topped with a dense head of bright green pinnate leaves that grow to about 4 ft in length. Delicate leaflets, arranged neatly along the upper length of the gently arched leaf stem lend the plant a very graceful aspect. Lower leaflets are modified into sharp pointed 2-3 in spines.
Very adaptable to most soils (use light, fast draining soils in containers). Fertilize 3 times a year.
Light: Bright sun to partial shade.
Moisture: Needs adequate moisture for best look. Has some drought tolerance when mature.
zone 9-11
With adequate winter protection (goolge 'phoenix roebelenii winter protection', to see how to protect them) they can be grown in zone 7-8 (see pictures from my own yard)
Sowing instructions:
The ideal conditions for germination are in a continuously warm moist potting soil under shade cloth, because the young tender seedlings can burn easily if exposed to direct sunlight, and once the growth is arrested rarely recover.
Germinates withing 3 months.
