featured plant: pygmy date palm

common name: pygmy date palm
scientific name: phoenix roebelenii
family: arecaceae/palmae
origin: laos
type: palm
exposure: part shade
height: 6-12'
width: 8'
spacing: 10'
growth rate: slow
water use: average
zone(s): 9-11
cold hardiness: 24 degrees
WARNING: sharp, needle-like spikes at the base of each frond, puncture can cause serious injury including nerve damage; sap may cause skin irritation

(apologies for the photo, my camera has decided it is time to retire. i will post a better photo as soon as i get a new camera.)



the pygmy date palm is slow growing (especially in a pot) and because of that, larger sized specimens can get really pricey. but for those who can afford them they are worth the price. mature specimens can get up to 15' high on graceful arching stems topped with long, fine fronds. the multi-trunked varieties are especially gorgeous.

i've had mine for almost 4 years and it has not grown any noticeable amount in all that time, but it is still one of my favorites. when i had the house in the city it lived in the small entry tunnel, protected from cold weather and when i moved to san bruno it did quite nicely as an indoor plant. now that i've moved again, it's out on the patio. it did suffer some small amount of damage with our recent cold spell (you can see some browning on some of the fronds), but seems to be faring well otherwise. come spring it will definitely require a soil top-off or a larger pot.