Phoenix roebelenii O'Brien

Common name(s): Miniature Date Palm, Dwarf Date Palm, Pygmy Date Palm, Robellini 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
Fruit
Fruit
Taken by Ken Harrington
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Palm / Palm Ally Properties
Origin(s)
Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • Laos: Indigenous
China
  • Yunnan: Indigenous
Viet Nam
  • Nth Vietna: Indigenous
Plant Type
Frond Retained, Palm, Palm Feather-leaved, Solitary
Frond Retained,
Palm,
Palm Feather-leaved,
Solitary
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub, Tropical, Tropical Monsoon
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean,
Tropical-Sub,
Tropical,
Tropical Monsoon
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light
Sun - Full,
Shade - Dappled,
Shade - Light
Habitat Range(s)
Lakes / Dams / Swamps, Rainforest - Sub-tropical, Rainforest - Tropical, Rainforest - Monsoonal, Rivers / Creeks / Streams
Lakes / Dams / Swamps,
Rainforest - Sub-tropical,
Rainforest - Tropical,
Rainforest - Monsoonal,
Rivers / Creeks / Streams
Habitat Zone(s)
Cliffs, Garden, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Heavy soils, Lakes / Dams / Swamps, Landscape, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Riparian areas, Rivers / Creeks / Streams, Rock crevices, Understory, Water sides, Well drained, Wind Protected
Cliffs,
Garden,
Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,
Heavy soils,
Lakes / Dams / Swamps,
Landscape,
Moist areas,
Moist Slopes,
Riparian areas,
Rivers / Creeks / Streams,
Rock crevices,
Understory,
Water sides,
Well drained,
Wind Protected
Mature Height
2-2.5m, 2.5-3m, 3-4m, 4-5m, 5-6m, 6-7m
2-2.5m,
2.5-3m,
3-4m,
4-5m,
5-6m,
6-7m
Mature Width
2-3m, 3-4m
2-3m,
3-4m
Growth Rate
Slow, Moderate
Slow,
Moderate
Plant Shape
Standard Crown - Dense
Standard Crown - Dense
Standard Crown - Dense Standard Crown - Dense
Life Span
30-50yrs, 50-100yrs
30-50yrs,
50-100yrs
Frond Properties
Frond Colour(s) (front)
Green Dark, Grey-green, Silver-green
Green Dark,
Grey-green,
Silver-green
Frond Colour(s) (back)
Green
Green
Frond Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Glabrous Glabrous
Frond Texture (back)
Scurfy
Scurfy
Scurfy Scurfy
Frond Length
600-700mm, 700-800mm, 800-900mm, 900mm-1m, 2-2.25m
600-700mm,
700-800mm,
800-900mm,
900mm-1m,
2-2.25m
Frond Aroma
None
None
Frond Shapes
Elliptical
Elliptical
Pinnate / Imparapinnate
Pinnate / Imparapinnate
Elliptical Elliptical,
Pinnate / Imparapinnate Pinnate / Imparapinnate
Frond Arrangement
Dense Crown
Dense Crown
Whorled
Whorled
Dense Crown Dense Crown,
Whorled Whorled
Trunk / Stem Properties
Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)
Green-brown, Grey-brown
Green-brown,
Grey-brown
Colour(s) (Base)
Grey-brown
Grey-brown
Texture (Upper)
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous Rough / Scabrous
Corky , Fibrous , Prickly
Corky,
Fibrous,
Prickly
Texture (Base)
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous Rough / Scabrous
Coarse , Corky
Coarse,
Corky
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Male
Flowering Time (start)
Spring Early
Spring Early
Flowering Time (end)
Spring Late
Spring Late
Colour(s)
Yellow Light, Cream, Cream-yellow
Yellow Light,
Cream,
Cream-yellow
Flower Shape(s)
Male Staminate Flower
Male Staminate Flower
Male Staminate Flower Male Staminate Flower
Flower Size(s) Length
5-7.5mm
5-7.5mm
Aroma(s)
None
None
Arrangements
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Pannicle
Pannicle
Axillary, Interfoliar Short Axillary, Interfoliar Short,
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)
Green Light
Green Light
Flower Shape(s)
Female or Pistillate Flower
Female or Pistillate Flower
Female or Pistillate Flower Female or Pistillate Flower
Flower Size(s) Length
2.5-5mm
2.5-5mm
Aroma(s)
None
None
Arrangements
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Pannicle
Pannicle
Axillary, Interfoliar Short Axillary, Interfoliar Short,
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)
Ellipsoid
Ellipsoid
Ellipsoid Ellipsoid
Length
5-10mm
5-10mm
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, Stony, Shaley, Calcareous, Lateritic, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter
Clay-loam,
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
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 , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Shallow,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
Slight
Slight
Slight Slight
Waterlogging Class
W2 – Good tolerance
W2 – Good tolerance
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Poor
Poor
Bird Attraction
Fruit
Fruit
Butterfly Attraction
None
None
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
2nd Line
2nd Line
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
None
None
Drought Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Smog Tolerance
Good
Good
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Landscape Use
Very Good
Very Good
Special Purpose(s)
Garden-Container, Foliage-Interesting, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Formal, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Tropical, Pond Edge, Pool Side, Screen, Shade tree-Light, Shady Dry, Shady Moist, Specimen, Sunny Dry, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Cockatoo's, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Parrot's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares
Garden-Container,
Foliage-Interesting,
Garden-Courtyard,
Garden-Formal,
Garden-Indoors,
Garden-Informal,
Garden-Mediterranean,
Garden-Tropical,
Pond Edge,
Pool Side,
Screen,
Shade tree-Light,
Shady Dry,
Shady Moist,
Specimen,
Sunny Dry,
Sunny Moist,
Tolerant-Cockatoo's,
Tolerant-Deer,
Tolerant-Kangaroo's,
Tolerant-Parrot's,
Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

General Notes

A small to medium solitary palm, tough and hardy for most garden and landscape areas giving a tropical appeal as a specimen, group or mass planting with lovely fine textured, gracefully arching fronds. Growing as a rheophyte (growing in running water) in many locations in its natural habitat it is a rarity in the palm world.

The palm crown has 30 - 50 pinnate fronds (leaf) with 80 - 100 pinnae (leaflets) either side of the rachis.

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