Would you like a little Mediterranean flair in your garden? Then put your trust in the Canary Island date palm. The impressive eye-catcher creates a relaxing holiday mood in the garden in no time.
Canary date palms are a special eye-catcher in a Mediterranean-style garden at any time of the year. Planted both in tubs and in the ground, they stretch their impressive crown with strikingly patterned leaves towards the light.
Canary Island date palms are evergreen feather palms with a trunk of different shapes. They are not very demanding, all they want is well-drained soil and a little fertilizer every two weeks in the summer months. In winter they prefer a greenhouse or a bright, not too warm place and occasionally some water. In this article we will tell you what else is important when it comes to care and how Canary date palms are planted.
Origin
The Canarian date palm (Phonenix canariensis) is one of the palm plants (Arecaceae), with the genus Phoenix comprising 13 and 17 species. They have their origins in the Near East. From there they spread to North Africa and India. It can also be found in the subtropical and tropical areas of Africa and on the Azores and Canary Islands. The Canarian date palms are rarely found in the wild today. Instead, they are particularly popular worldwide as container plants.
Date palms have a special meaning, as evidenced by the number of times they appear in the Bible and history books. They were considered a symbol of resurrection and justice.
Canary Island date palms and their peculiarities
The evergreen Canarian date palms are feather palms that initially have no trunk and only develop one over the years. In its natural habitat, it can grow up to 18 meters high. Planted in a pot, however, the palm tree remains significantly smaller. The trunk has a striking pattern, which is characterized by the scars that come from dead leaves.
The curved leaves, which have an unpaired suspension, are particularly characteristic. At the top they often stand with equal decencyaway from each other. The leaf stalks of the Canary Island date palm also have thorns and the fronds are long and wide. But they don't sting like real date palms. Incidentally, the impressive crown can have palm fronds up to five meters long! The flowers differ in inconspicuous white, male flowers with a short calyx, and female, broad flowers.
The panicles of the date palm can grow up to 150 centimeters long. However, the fruits on the impressive panicles of the Canary date palm are not edible.
| Canary Island Date Palm (Phonenix canariensis) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | upright, spreading |
| Growth: | 8 - 18 m |
| Growth: | up to 500 cm |
| Flowering: | March to June |
| Location: | Sun and partial shade |
| Floor: | well-drained, earthy on a compost basis with sand, some gravel and lava granules |
Planting Canary Island Date Palms - How it's done
❍ The correct location:
Canary date palms feel particularly good in a sunny location. But they also thrive in semi-shade. The palm trees can either be planted directly in the ground or in a container.
Tip:
The bucket must be large enough so that the root system has enough space to expand and the palm tree can grow properly.
❍ The right substrate:
The Canarian date palms prefer to have their roots in the water. When choosing the substrate, you should therefore use a permeable, earthy, slightly acidic compost-based substrate that is interspersed with lava granules, sand and some gravel. A mixture of palm soil, potting soil and sand has proven very effective for Canary Island date palms. A drainage layer made of expanded concrete and gravel in the bucket so that the irrigation water can drain off is also recommended.
❍ Planting Instructions:
- Select a sunny, partially shaded location. Note the size of the palm tree.
- Prepare substrate.
- Fill drain into bucket.
- Add substrate to the planter.
- Insert palm tree.
- Fill substrate.
- Water the palm.
Tip:
The planter should be twice the size of the root ball so that the roots can expand. Properly dimensioned drainage holes for irrigation water are also important.
How to maintainCanarian date palms right
❍ pour:
You should always keep the ball of the Canary date palms moist in the bucket. This means that you should water every day during the summer months, especially when it is very hot. However, waterlogging must not occur. It is best to water when the top layer of the substrate has dried. In between, you can also spray the date palm with water to keep it nice and moist.
❍ fertilize:
During the summer months, fertilizing with a palm fertilizer is important. However, every two weeks is sufficient. Since Canarian date palms are very sensitive to s alt, you should use a low dose of fertilizer.
❍ cut:
Pruning is not necessary for Canary Island date palms. Only dried fronds are removed for visual reasons if they are actually completely dried.
❍ hibernate:
The date palm is best overwintered in the conservatory or greenhouse at around 10 to 15° Celsius. Another ideal place are stairways, bright corridors or similar rooms. These places are always suitable if you want to overwinter potted plants.
Date palms are watered sparingly in winter. However, the root ball must never become completely dry. Incidentally, a nutrient supply every six weeks is sufficient in the winter months.
❍ repot:
The repotting of the Canary Island date palm only takes place when the soil is deeply rooted after about three years. It is important that the roots are not damaged when transplanting into a larger pot.
How to propagate Canarian date palms
Canary date palms can easily be propagated by sowing in spring. The germination period is around three months. However, the seed should be sown quickly. Just do the following:
Let the seeds soak for a few days before placing them in small pots at 20 to 25° Celsius in growing soil. Keep the seed warm and moist afterwards. After about one to two months, the first grass-like leaves will appear. After two to three years, the Canary Island date palm develops its characteristic feathered fronds.
Detecting and combating diseases and pests
If the date palm is too warm and too dark, callus disease sometimes appears, which can be recognized by black spots on the leaves. Too hard and cold water can also lead to leaf spot disease. Above all in winter date palms can also be attacked by spider mites,mealybugs and scale insects.
As a preventative measure, you should spray the plant regularly with water and make sure that there is no waterlogging and that the room air is not dry. However, if there is an infestation with spider mites, mealybugs and/or scale insects, you can use a biological pesticide. For example, Substral Naturen Bio Schädlingsfrei is recommended, as it is a natural product made from renewable raw materials with a broader and faster contact effect. It is not dangerous to bees and protects beneficial insects.