How to Plant and Grow Date Palm Tree

Date palm, grown by home gardeners primarily for its decorative fronds, is cultivated as a landscape tree in its hardy Zones 9 to 11 in the United States. Some date palm species, such as Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensi), can reach lofty heights of 80 feet or more. A landscape needs plenty of vertical and horizontal space to accommodate a tall tree with an enormous root system that spreads out beneath the tree to anchor it and gather water.

Where to Plant Date Palm

In the United States, date palms are primarily found in Florida, California, and Hawaii. They grow best in full sun (although light shade is tolerated) and sandy or loamy, well-draining soils.

When planting, choose a spot at least 10 feet from homes and other structures to accommodate your date palm’s eventual height. Once established, the date palm is fairly drought and salt-tolerant—making it an excellent addition to sunny coastal landscapes.

How and When to Plant Date Palm

Date palms are best transplanted in spring or fall. Take care when transporting your specimen, as the wood is very soft. Also, make sure the crown of the palm is supported during the process to prevent leaves from snapping off. Like when planting any other tree, dig the hole twice as wide as the root ball. Fill in around the tree with the loose soil you excavated, so the roots are barely covered. Press soil around the roots with your hands or feet, then water well.

If you are planting multiple date palms, plan to space them about 20 to 40 feet apart. Fruit-bearing
female date palms will need at least one male date palm nearby to produce fruit. Male date palms only produce pollen while female date palms produce flowers (and eventually fruit) but no pollen.

Date Palm Care Tips

Once planted, date palms will be very easy to care for.

Light

For date palm, the more sunlight the better. It needs at least six to eight hours a day for optimal growth and health.

Soil and Water

Date palm grows best in rich, well-drained soil with deep, even moisture. If well-established, date palm trees will tolerate drought. When growing fruit plants, more water is needed.

Potted palms will need to be watered more frequently than outdoor plants but are equally troubled by excessively wet conditions. Soak your potted palm until the excess drains out and then remove the drained water instead of letting the pot sit in it.

Temperature and Humidity

Date palms won't pollinate until the temperature reaches 95ºF. They thrive in dry heat and sun. They're likely to suffer significant frond damage or even die if temperatures fall beneath 20 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperatures get cold, wrap your plant in burlap or bring container plants indoors.

Fertilizer

Feed a date palm with a top dressing of manure in early spring or use a palm tree fertilizer high in potassium. For the amount to use, follow product label directions. Wait two to four weeks before fertilizing newly planted date palms.

For potted date palms, apply a slow-release, high-potassium fertilizer (according to manufacturer instructions) in the spring and again in the summer.

Pruning

Remove dead, damaged, or diseased leaves from the tree as needed. Suckers that are growing at the base of the tree should be removed as well since they draw energy for growth away from the tree's main trunk. If your tree is fruit-bearing, thin the harvest occasionally so the ripening fruit can grow without being crowded out by newer date clusters.

Potting and Repotting Date Palm

If you would like to grow a date palm in a container, look for smaller cultivars like the Phoenix roebelenii or pygmy date palm (which typically grow to only 5 or 6 feet tall). Use a heavy-bottomed container slightly larger than the root ball, and make sure it has excellent drainage holes. When your date palm has reached maturity, it will likely need a 25-gallon (or larger) container, but as they are slow-growing, you can start with a container as small as 10 to 15 gallons (if it will comfortably accommodate your tree’s root ball). Fill your chosen pot with potting soil designed for palm trees or make your own by combining one part vermiculite with two parts good-quality potting mix.

Date palms prefer to stay a little root bound, so only repot if necessary (when roots are visible through the drainage holes) and wait until spring or early summer if possible. Be sure to choose a new container that is at least 2 inches deeper and wider than the previous pot. A date palm should be able to stay in its container for 2 to 4 years. Once it reaches maturity, however, avoid transplanting and simply refresh the top few inches of soil with a nutrient-rich blend.

Handle your date palm carefully when repotting and arm yourself with gloves and eye protection. Their root systems tend to be fragile, but the bark and fronds can be rough and spiky.

Pests and Problems

Date palm trees can be destroyed by infestations of palmetto weevils, which are drawn to these plants when leaves are removed by pruning or during transplanting. The weevils lay their eggs in older leaves, and the resulting larvae eventually kill the tree by burrowing deep inside it. Treat damaged leaves with an insecticide before the weevils have a chance to get established.

Use caution with weed-control products, especially on new palm trees. Some palm species are sensitive to herbicides and can suffer damage if the herbicide comes in contact with green stems, foliage, or exposed roots. This may result in brown leaf spots, browning foliage, deformed new growth, and death. It's a good idea to hand-pull weeds until the palm is more stable and grown.

How to Propagate Date Palm

Propagate date palms from the suckers growing on an existing tree. Carefully remove the sucker from the tree, keeping its roots intact. Plant it in soil, either in a spot in your yard or in a container. Protect the new planting from bright sunlight until it shows shoots. Keep it moist but not soggy while it grows.

To grow date palms from seeds, use seeds from ripe dates. After soaking for 24 hours, shallowly press the seeds into a pot or tray filled with potting mix and top the soil with a thin layer of sand. Keep the seeds in a bright spot and spritz them regularly to keep the soil evenly moist, but not wet. The seeds will take approximately a month (or as long as three or four months) to germinate, so be patient. When your sprouts are a few inches high, they can be transplanted to a larger grow pot.

Types of Date Palm Tree

Pygmy Date Palm

Phoenix roebelinii is the smallest date palm, growing 12-15 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide (or smaller in containers). Its slender, silvery leaves grow 5 feet long. The stem is armed with long spines, so it's unsuitable for growing along walkways. Its compact size makes it well-suited for containers, on patios, or indoors. Zones 10-11

Date Palm

Phoenix dactylifera produces the edible dates most commonly available in markets. Date palm is naturally a clumping tree, but its suckers are usually removed to create a single trunk. It works well to frame a multistory home or as a street tree. Date palm grows 50-60 feet tall and 20-25 feet wide. Zones 9-11

Canary Island Date Palm

Phoenix canariensis has a brown trunk that can reach 2-3 feet across. The tree's crown bears 15-foot-long silvery leaves massed in a sphere, giving the tree a lollipop look. It's an excellent street tree. It grows 50-80 feet tall and 25-30 feet wide. Zones 9-11

Silver Date Palm

Phoenix sylvestris bears 10-foot-long silvery-blue to bluish-green leaves. They often appear to glow with a metallic sheen. The tree grows 55 feet tall and 25 feet wide. Use silver date as a street tree or to frame a home. It tolerates high rainfall conditions better than other date palms. Zones 9-11

Senegal Date Palm

Phoenix reclinata is a multitrunk palm with long, feathery green leaves and spines on leaf stems. It grows 40-50 feet tall and 25-40 feet wide. Senegal date palm is a slow grower that likes regular watering but tolerates dry periods. Zones 10-11