Phoenix dactylifera ‘Zahidi’

date palm
True date palm, Zahidi variety. Fruits in hottest inland climates only with long, hot fall. Suckers, forming a thicket if not pruned. Hardy.
height 30–50
width 15–20
tolerates Cold, Heat, Salt, Wind
water
needs		 Moderate
water
info		 While this palm loves hot dry deserts it grows only in oasis where groundwater exists. As such it will need supplemental water in the areas it loves most, such as inland Central and Southern California. Along the coast, where marine influences exist, this palm is considerably more drought tolerant.
hardy
to		 15F
exposure Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix
fertilizing Palm Fertilizer
origin SE Mediterranean
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 8, 9, 11–23

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

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.
Suckering palms like this one send out additional palm trunks from the base of the palm over time, so that you’ll end up with multiple trunks on one palm. If you want fewer trunks, go ahead and thin out the suckers; just be sure to do it when they are young to avoid unsightly scarring later on. Typically this palm has the suckers removed and is more attractive as a single trunked palm, though they do look quite handsome as multiples. If you’d like multiple trunks choose a dominant sucker where you’d like a second trunk and thin out any others that are not desired. Continue to do this maintenance over time as the desired trunks fill in.
This palm holds its leaves for a long time, creating a thorny beard to help against predation. Typically this palm is best pruned by a professional who can sculpt its pruning to create the iconic bumped date palm trunk. If you do decide to prune your palm avoid the sharp spines along the rachis (leaf stem). If fire retardance is a consideration the old leaves should be removed annually.
Very rarely this palm will sucker from the crown. Such suckers should be removed.

Special Interest

Edible dates! This palm is one of the few palms that gives edible fruit, but only where long hot summers exist in the Central Valley and Southern California. This palm is even grown commercially in Coachella Valley where fruiting is consistent. Since date palms are dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants) you will only receive those sweet delicious dates if there is a pollinator nearby. Many dactylifera are actually pollinated by nearby canary island palms, and this hybridization results in edible fruit. Almost all dactylifera are female, with only the occasional male tree.

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