Phoenix canariensis Chabaud

Common name(s): Canary Island Date Palm, Pineapple Palm, Phoenix Palm

Family: Arecaceae (Palmae)
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington
Bark
Bark
Taken by Ken Harrington
Frond
Frond
Taken by Ken Harrington
Pinna
Pinna
Taken by Ken Harrington
Pinna
Pinna
Taken by Ken Harrington
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Palm / Palm Ally Properties
Origin(s)
Spain
  • Canary Is.: Indigenous
Plant Type
Frond Self Cleaning, Palm, Palm Feather-leaved, Solitary
Frond Self Cleaning,
Palm,
Palm Feather-leaved,
Solitary
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean,
Tropical-Sub
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full
Sun - Full
Habitat Range(s)
Arid-Humid, Coastal, Forest - Littoral, Open Woodlands, Sclerophyll Forest - Dry
Arid-Humid,
Coastal,
Forest - Littoral,
Open Woodlands,
Sclerophyll Forest - Dry
Habitat Zone(s)
Coastal margins, Exposed, Exposed Stony embankments, Garden, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Heavy soils, Hill Sides, Landscape, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Open areas, Plains, Ridges, Rivers / Creeks / Streams, Rocky, Sandy Moist, Water sides, Well drained, Windy
Coastal margins,
Exposed,
Exposed Stony embankments,
Garden,
Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,
Heavy soils,
Hill Sides,
Landscape,
Moist areas,
Moist Slopes,
Open areas,
Plains,
Ridges,
Rivers / Creeks / Streams,
Rocky,
Sandy Moist,
Water sides,
Well drained,
Windy
Mature Height
10-15m, 15-20m, 20-25m, 25-30m
10-15m,
15-20m,
20-25m,
25-30m
Mature Width
8-9m, 9-10m, 10-15m
8-9m,
9-10m,
10-15m
Growth Rate
Slow, Moderate
Slow,
Moderate
Plant Shape
Standard Crown - Dense
Standard Crown - Dense
Standard Crown - Dense Standard Crown - Dense
Life Span
50-100yrs, 100-150yrs
50-100yrs,
100-150yrs
Frond Properties
Frond Colour(s) (front)
Blue-green, Green Dark
Blue-green,
Green Dark
Frond Colour(s) (back)
Green Dark
Green Dark
Frond Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery
Stiff
Stiff
Frond Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Glabrous Glabrous
Frond Length
4-4.5m, 4.5-5m, 5-5.5m, 5.5-6m
4-4.5m,
4.5-5m,
5-5.5m,
5.5-6m
Frond Width
400-500mm, 500-600mm
400-500mm,
500-600mm
Frond Aroma
None
None
Frond Shapes
Elliptical
Elliptical
Pinnate / Parapinnate
Pinnate / Parapinnate
Recurved
Recurved
Elliptical Elliptical,
Pinnate / Parapinnate Pinnate / Parapinnate,
Recurved Recurved
Frond Arrangement
Dense Crown
Dense Crown
Whorled
Whorled
Dense Crown Dense Crown,
Whorled Whorled
Trunk / Stem Properties
Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)
Brown, Grey-brown
Brown,
Grey-brown
Colour(s) (Base)
Brown, Grey-brown
Brown,
Grey-brown
Texture (Upper)
Coarse , Corky , Fibrous
Coarse,
Corky,
Fibrous
Texture (Base)
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous Rough / Scabrous
Corky
Corky
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Male
Flowering Time (start)
Spring Early
Spring Early
Flowering Time (end)
Spring Late
Spring Late
Colour(s)
Yellow-green
Yellow-green
Flower Shape(s)
Male Staminate Flower
Male Staminate Flower
Male Staminate Flower Male Staminate Flower
Erect
Erect
Flower Size(s) Length
1.5-2mm
1.5-2mm
Aroma(s)
None
None
Arrangements
Axillary, Interfoliar Long
Axillary, Interfoliar Long
Pannicle
Pannicle
Axillary, Interfoliar Long Axillary, Interfoliar Long,
Pannicle Pannicle
Pendulous
Pendulous
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Insects
Bees,
Insects
Male and Female Flowers Borne
On Separate Plant
On Separate Plant
Gender: Female
Flowering Time (start)
Spring Early
Spring Early
Flowering Time (end)
Spring Late
Spring Late
Colour(s)
Yellow-green
Yellow-green
Flower Shape(s)
Female or Pistillate Flower
Female or Pistillate Flower
Female or Pistillate Flower Female or Pistillate Flower
Pendulous
Pendulous
Flower Size(s) Length
1.5-2mm
1.5-2mm
Aroma(s)
None
None
Arrangements
Axillary, Interfoliar Long
Axillary, Interfoliar Long
Pannicle
Pannicle
Axillary, Interfoliar Long Axillary, Interfoliar Long,
Pannicle Pannicle
Pendulous
Pendulous
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Insects
Bees,
Insects
Male and Female Flowers Borne
On Separate Plant
On Separate Plant
Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties
Type
Drupe
Drupe
Drupe Drupe
Shape(s)
Obovoid
Obovoid
Ovoid
Ovoid
Obovoid Obovoid,
Ovoid Ovoid
Length
15-20mm
15-20mm
Aroma
None
None
Root Properties
Type
Surface Adventitious Root
Surface Adventitious Root
Surface Adventitious Root Surface Adventitious Root
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Stony, Shaley, Calcareous, Lateritic, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter
Clay-loam,
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Sand,
Stony,
Shaley,
Calcareous,
Lateritic,
Hummus Rich,
Organic Matter
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline, Alkaline
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline,
Alkaline
Condition(s)
Damp
Damp
Moist
Moist
Moist-Dry
Moist-Dry
Damp Damp,
Moist Moist,
Moist-Dry Moist-Dry
Fertile , Poor , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Poor,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
Slight - Moderate
Slight - Moderate
Slight - Moderate Slight - Moderate
Waterlogging Class
W1 – Restricted tolerance
W1 – Restricted tolerance
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Poor
Poor
Bird Attraction
Insect, Nesting, Fruit, Habitat
Insect,
Nesting,
Fruit,
Habitat
Butterfly Attraction
None
None
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
1st Line
1st Line
Edible(s)
Fruit - Eaten raw
Fruit - Eaten raw
Fire Retarding
None
None
Drought Tolerance
Good
Good
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Smog Tolerance
Very Good
Very Good
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Landscape Use
Very Good
Very Good
Special Purpose(s)
Garden-Coastal, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Formal, Garden-Informal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Tropical, Garden-Xeriscape, Litter Issue - Fruit, Litter Issue - Leaves, Screen, Shade tree-Medium, Sunny Dry, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Cockatoo's, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Parrot's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares
Garden-Coastal,
Garden-Foliage,
Garden-Formal,
Garden-Informal,
Garden-Mediterranean,
Garden-Tropical,
Garden-Xeriscape,
Litter Issue - Fruit,
Litter Issue - Leaves,
Screen,
Shade tree-Medium,
Sunny Dry,
Sunny Moist,
Tolerant-Cockatoo's,
Tolerant-Deer,
Tolerant-Kangaroo's,
Tolerant-Parrot's,
Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares
Weed Potential(s)
United States
  • Florida: Strong
  • Cal.: Declared
Australia
  • NT: Strong
  • QLD: Strong
  • SA: Strong
  • VIC: Strong
  • WA: Strong
  • Nth. Is.: Strong
Bermuda
  • Bermuda: Declared
Italy
  • Italy: Naturalised
Portugal
  • Portugal: Naturalised
Spain
  • Spain: Naturalised
France
  • France: Naturalised
Morocco
  • Morocco: Naturalised
Tunisia
  • Tunisia: Naturalised

General Notes

P. canariensis is the natural symbol of the Canary Islands. It has been cultivated in gardens throughout Mediterranean climates for hundreds of years. A very hardy, adaptable palm which has become one of the most planted palms in the world. On La Gomera Island the sap is collected to make palm syrup. Although the fruit is edible there is very little flesh. A palm that is easily transplanted when mature.

The palm has up to 100 graceful, arching, large parapinnate fronds, with 80 - 100 leaflets (pinnae) on either side of the rachis, usually angled forwards .

It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit