Phoenix roebelenii O'Brien

Common name(s): Miniature Date Palm, Dwarf Date Palm, Pygmy Date Palm, Robellini Palm

Family: Arecaceae (Palmae)

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington

Bark

Taken by Ken Harrington

Frond

Taken by Ken Harrington

Pinna

Taken by Ken Harrington

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

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

Frond Texture (front)

Glabrous

Frond Texture (back)

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

Frond Shapes

Elliptical

Pinnate / Imparapinnate

Elliptical,

Pinnate / Imparapinnate

Frond Arrangement

Dense Crown

Whorled

Dense Crown,

Whorled

Frond Attachment

Fibrous Sheath

Petiolate

Fibrous Sheath,

Petiolate

Pinna Shape(s) (Frondlet)

Linear

Pinna Length (Frondlet)

100-150mm, 150-200mm, 200-250mm

100-150mm,

150-200mm,

200-250mm

Pinna Width (Frondlet)

5-10mm

Pinnae Arrangement

Even Pinnae

Pinnule Apice(s) (Leaflet)

Acute Narrowly

Entire

Acute Narrowly,

Entire

Pinnule Base(s) (Leaflet)

Attenuate

Pinnule Margin(s) (Leaflet)

Entire

Petiole Length

50-60mm, 60-70mm, 70-80mm, 80-90mm, 90-100mm, 100-150mm

50-60mm,

60-70mm,

70-80mm,

80-90mm,

90-100mm,

100-150mm

Petiole Texture

Smooth

Velvety / Velutinous

Smooth,

Velvety / Velutinous

Spines-long , Spines-sharp

Spines-long,

Spines-sharp

Petiole Feature(s)

Spines Basal , Spines-Long

Spines Basal,

Spines-Long

Trunk / Stem Properties

Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)

Green-brown, Grey-brown

Green-brown,

Grey-brown

Colour(s) (Base)

Grey-brown

Texture (Upper)

Rough / Scabrous

Corky , Fibrous , Prickly

Corky,

Fibrous,

Prickly

Texture (Base)

Rough / Scabrous

Coarse , Corky

Coarse,

Corky

Cross Section

Terete

Diameter

70-80mm, 80-90mm, 90-100mm, 100-125mm, 125-150mm

70-80mm,

80-90mm,

90-100mm,

100-125mm,

125-150mm

Length

1.5-2m, 2-2.5m, 2.5-3m, 3-3.5m, 4-4.5m

1.5-2m,

2-2.5m,

2.5-3m,

3-3.5m,

4-4.5m

Features

Leaf Base Scars

Construction

Pith Continuous

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Male

Flowering Time (start)

Spring Early

Flowering Time (end)

Spring Late

Colour(s)

Yellow Light, Cream, Cream-yellow

Yellow Light,

Cream,

Cream-yellow

Flower Shape(s)

Male Staminate Flower

Flower Size(s) Length

5-7.5mm

Aroma(s)

None

Arrangements

Axillary, Interfoliar Short

Pannicle

Axillary, Interfoliar Short,

Pannicle

Pendulous

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Insects

Bees,

Insects

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Separate Plant

Gender: Female

Flowering Time (start)

Spring Early

Flowering Time (end)

Spring Late

Colour(s)

Green Light

Flower Shape(s)

Female or Pistillate Flower

Flower Size(s) Length

2.5-5mm

Aroma(s)

None

Arrangements

Axillary, Interfoliar Short

Pannicle

Axillary, Interfoliar Short,

Pannicle

Pendulous

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Insects

Bees,

Insects

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Separate Plant

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Drupe

Shape(s)

Ellipsoid

Outer Colour(s)

Black, Red

Black,

Red

Outer Texture

Glabrous

Fleshy , Thin

Fleshy,

Thin

Length

5-10mm

Aroma

None

Seed Properties

Type

Nutlet

Shape(s)

Ellipsoid

Size

6-7mm, 7-8mm

6-7mm,

7-8mm

Seed Dispersal

Animals, Birds

Animals,

Birds

Seed Number

Root Properties

Type

Surface Adventitious Root

Texture

Cord-like , Fibrous , Pliable

Cord-like,

Fibrous,

Pliable

Colour(s)

Brown Light, Grey-brown

Brown Light,

Grey-brown

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

Moist

Moist-Dry

Damp,

Moist,

Moist-Dry

Fertile , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Shallow,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

W2 – Good tolerance

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Poor

Bird Attraction

Fruit

Butterfly Attraction

None

Frog Habitat

None

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Very Low

Wood Density

Low < 600kg/c.m.

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

Seed

Fire Retarding

None

Drought Tolerance

Moderate

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Smog Tolerance

Good

Snow Tolerance

None

Landscape Use

Very Good

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Fronding

Pests/Diseases

Mealy Bug, Red Spider Mite, Scale

Mealy Bug,

Red Spider Mite,

Scale

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

Altitude Range - Habitat

0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m

0-100m,

100-200m,

200-300m,

300-400m,

400-500m

Annual Precipitation Range

1,200mm, 1,300mm, 1,400mm, 1,5oomm, 1,600mm, 1,700mm, 1,800mm, 1,900mm, 2,000mm, 2,200mm

1,200mm,

1,300mm,

1,400mm,

1,5oomm,

1,600mm,

1,700mm,

1,800mm,

1,900mm,

2,000mm,

2,200mm

Propagation

Hot Water Stratified Seed

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.

Propagation Notes

Hot Water Stratified Seed

Flowering

Sep, Oct, Nov

Sowing

Sep, Oct, Nov

Material Preparation

The fruit takes quite a few months to ripen. Pick the fruit when it is brown to black, off the tree or from off the ground. Peel off the outer flesh or if too hard, soak the nuts in warm water for 48 - 72 hours to loosen the outer flesh. Change the water daily. Discard any nuts that float to the top, keep the ones that sink. Floating nuts won't germinate as they lack an endosperm. Wash the nuts thoroughly with Solvol soap to remove any remaining pulp. Allow to dry. Store in a cool, dark place. It is best to sow the nuts as soon as possible for best results.

Viability:- 1 - 2 years

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

Premium Seed Raising Mix

2 parts Premium Seed Raising Mix + 1 part Isolite

Treatment

Soak the seeds in thermos of off the boil hot water for 3 days. Fill the large forestry tubes or 150mm deep seedling trays with mix and firm down. Push the fresh nuts in till just the top is exposed, water in well with Previcur fungicide mix. Place in hothouse on 21°C heated bed with misters. Maintain hothouse environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 30-35° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect sun light.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:- 1 - 3 months 4 – 6 months before first frond opens

Pricking out:- 3 - 5 months after germination

Tube Mix:- Premium Potting Mix

140mm Pot Mix:- Premium Potting Mix