Phoenix canariensis

Canary Island date palm
California’s most common large palm. Dramatic heirloom plant. Orange fruit. Seaside to desert conditions. Drought-tolerant by coast. Vulnerable to fatal fusarium wilt disease & palm weevil.
Phoenix canariensis
height 20–60
width 12–25
tolerates Coast, Cold, Cool Summers, Drought, Fog, Heat, Pots, Neglect, Wind
water
needs		 Low – Moderate
water
info		 Not all palms love water! This one is actually drought-tolerant and can live quite happily on little or no water once it’s established, though it’ll grow more slowly and may not look as lush. To keep your palm looking its best, be sure to water it consistently and deeply while it’s getting established, then after a few years give it a good deep soaking every couple of weeks. It will also be happy to have more water, provided the soil drainage is adequate.
hardy
to		 20F
exposure Full Shade – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing Palm Fertilizer
origin Canary Islands
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 8, 9, 12–H2

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

OUTDOOR EXPOSURE GUIDE

Full Sun
Six or more hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Shade
Three to five hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Sun
One to two hours of sun beams directly landing on the plants leaves.

Full Shade
The plant is never fully lit by sun beams, but is in a bright spot or has dappled sunbeams playing over the leaves throughout the day.

Deep Shade
The plant never has dappled light on the leaves, and is in a place that feels dim, even on a nice sunny day.

SUNSET ZONES MAP

Growing Notes

We no longer offer this wonderful plant because it’s vulnerable to dying from fusarium wilt disease, a fungal infection that has killed thousands. It is also vulnerable to a palm weevil that has begun to kill trees in the San Diego area.
Palms are generally heavy feeders, so if you want them growing quickly and looking their best, they should be fertilized at least three times a year. Fertilizing at spring equinox, summer solstice and fall equinox will allow for a winter rest. Be sure to feed your palm with a fertilizer that contains micronutrients (especially including magnesium), especially if you see yellowing leaves or yellow spots on the leaves.
Once leaves get older and begin to droop and brown cut them back as close to the trunk as possible. Be sure use sterilized tools as this palm is susceptible to fusarium wilt which can be spread through pruning a diseased palm. Once a Canary palm begins to die from fusarium, presenting as crisping leaves starting from the bottom of the crown, there is no recovery. Every five to ten years you may opt to have a professional arborist clean up the trunk to maintain the iconic Canary shape.
This solitary palm will grow only one trunk during its lifetime. If you have a pot with multiple trunks in it, that’s because multiple separate palm trees were germinated in the pot. The good news is that you won’t need to thin out suckers over time to maintain the number of trunks you started out with. Generally, due to its scale and form, this palm looks best as a single specimen.
Yellowing leaves are a symptom of either too much water, not enough drainage, or a lack of nutrients.
Young plants can live in containers for many years.

Special Interest

This palm anchors the oasis-style garden, especially when it’s mixed with cactus and other drought-tolerant plants like euphorbias. It also makes a compelling addition to the Mediterranean garden when mixed with lavender, rosemary, and olives.