Senegal Date Palm, Phoenix reclinata

Have you been looking for a tropical focal point with a low cost?    This Senegal Date Palm,  Phoenix reclinata, may be just what you are looking for.  

You can see that the main trunk has just over a foot of clear trunk - but its overall height is between 7 and 8 feet.  Even freshly trimmed up for harvest, it is an attention grabber.   It is the only clumping Date palm that I know of. 

Originally from India, Senegal Dates are hardy to zone 9.   It has a moderate growth rate; this one was in a one gallon container less than three years ago.    Senegal date is drought tolerant and not picky about its soil.   Ours have been growing in a nice sandy loam, but we will shortly transplant one to an area with a higher clay content.  We'll keep you posted on that.  

Senegal Dates do have long sharp spines on the petiole.   

According to Betrock's Guide to Landscape Palms, "Senegal date palm suckers vigorously and a single plant can consist of more than 20 stems if left unpruned.  It hybridizes readily with other date species, and a fair amount of the material in teh nursery trade is probably of mixed parentage.  It is valued as a specimen plant for accent, but sufficient room is necessary to allow for its natural spread.  Senegal date looks best if trimmed up to reveal the slender, matted trunks."

Our parent plant was a Phoenix sylvestris so our hybrids are Phoenix sylvestris x reclinata.   We've priced them at $65 each.