PlantFiles: Canary Date Palm
Phoenix canariensis

This palm is one of the most architectural there is, and is gaining massive popularity around the UK, although tends to be only confined to coastal areas, although some grow a little inland.

Biggest ones occur on the south coast, and on the Isles of Scilly (eq. USDA zone 9B/10A)

Here where I live (zone 9a) CIDP's rarely get winter damage if at all, and they are becoming frequent in peoples gardens, there are a few fairly large specimens around too, which have been growing for the last decade or so. The main problem is that people are relatively inexperienced with these palms and therefore plant them next to walls, not realising their potential size.

A great plant definitely a positive.

This is my favorite palm probrobly , it defoliates here a lil in winter but recovers rapidly i seen HUGE one in charleston and it AMAZED me

Now surpassing Trachycarpus fortunei in popularity here in the southwest UK, specimens are beginning to mature now and many small gardens have been taken over by these palms. They grow steadily all throughout the year due to our constant rainfall although the recent freeze has damaged the foliage of many plants. I have had a spear pull on two seedlings! Their potential is now being recognised and plants are beginning to be planted by councils across the country.

Grows with little care. Very gorgeous specimen but does require good space in the yard! One of the largest palms seen through the Las Vegas valley and many hotel/casinos utilize it's tropical appeal to create oasis style landscapes. Fronds can receive slight burn in cold winters, but definitely one of my favorite palms:)

i have a 2 year old seedling from a plam in Sochi, Russia, it is doing good so far, slow growing though.

these are popular palms here in the Lowcountry of S.C. Although for some reason the Lowcountry is classified as 8a/8b, which is incorrect for most of the region, because the winters are more like 8b and 9a and even higher on islands and near the beach or marsh (on Hilton Head to 10a in some places). this palm is popular here in residential landscapes and it is fining its way into commercial landscapes, as well as the pygmy date and sylvester date (wild date palm). canary dates hardly get damaged if at all during hard freezes. most palms here are small because to the residential landscapes they are not that readily available in large sizes like they are to commercial landscapes. if one wants a tall palm here, they get a palmetto which go for as low as $210 for a 10-18 foot stripped palm.

Very easy palm to transplant. Large mature trees are great back drops for pools and often used for this reason. Make sure you do not get females plants. Most providers will want to push a female on you. They are not as desirable and they usually have a lot of them. So someone looking for a plant that has no idea will be sold a female. Females are messy and you will be picking up fruit out of the pool almost year round. Considering that most CIDPs that are large enough to walk under will run you $5000 and up, it is worth taking your time and start your search early for the right plant.

Due to the width of the crown it also makes a great palm for canopy cover for the smaller rare palms. But that is one expensive canopy!

Several specimens growing in Jersey (the original one, in Britain) Zone 8b. 49oNorth. Largest are 50 years old. We are surrounded by sea and only get the odd night below -3oC, but short winter days this far North and wet!

i have dozens of these growing all over my yard because i live on a street lines with canary date palm. very attractive palm when it has formed a trunk but not really before that.

I am in Pensacola, Florida. Date palm grows well in my area (zone 8b), but you have to cover the trunk with a blanket in December and January. The freezing cold will destroy this tree if you neglect it just once.

Phoenix c. are grown as an experimental species in our zone 8b climate and some of them have managed to survive for several years unprotected. I do know of one growing in town since the Spring of 1999 and it seem to be just thriving. However it is growing right beside the ocean so it can feel the full maderating affect the Winter months. Personally I've lost numerous Phoenix over the years, but I may try one more time. The nicest specimens I've photographed in the Pacific North West were located in Brookings, Oregon on the south coast. They seemed to be every where once I started driving down side streets. The crowns were massive and the trunks were thick. They were decades old monsters and I've never even seen tham that full and with such thick trunks in southern California. The oldest I came across was planted in 1954. I also spotted two very large Phoenix in Gold Beach 27 miles north of Brookings, and they also looked great. I wouldn't mind to have one that size on my property. They are a beautiful palm indeed! By the way, many other species of palms are grown on our island with no problems at all. ature T.fortunei are common and there are some very nice Chamaerops as well.Banana Joe, Salt Spring Island, B.C.

my favorite palm, does very well in las vegas. often seen at car dealers, upscale office buildings. unfortunately, most of the ones i see at homes are neglected. they look fantastic when professionally trimmed. mature grade a canaries are $4-6 thousand + planting here

This palm always looks its best no matter how dry the Summer. I think they loose some of their charm when the dead fronds are pruned away, as they lose the ball like shape of the canopy. I accept that they have to be pruned as street trees, because of the risk of a falling fronds and the spines. However the one in our lawn always drops old fronds on a windy day and they pose no problem. The spines are filthy. In our palm many small birds nest and roost in the frond bases, presumably for the protection the spines give, but they leave them encrusted,and needing careful handling.

Be careful of the spines at the base of the frons. I once stabbed myself with one, and the pain was excruciating. Either the spine is poisoned by the plant, or some toxic organism on the spine got injected by the stab. Be warned.

This is the classic avenue palm in Southern California (aside from the Mexican Fan Palm)- there are thousands of them lining the streets all over Los Angeles. It is one of the fastest growing, largest and hardiest palms you can grow. It seems to like Mediterranean climates better than tropical ones- those grown in Florida always look a bit anemic to those in drier climates. Once established it needs no water, and will look good in high heat and freezing cold.

It does have a few drawbacks, however. Until the crown grows over your head, or the roof of your home, you will need to contend with long, spiny leaves, the base of which have strong, sharp spines that look like darning needles up to 2 feet long that can easily penetrate the toughest clothing- even leather... so careful when pruning! It also is susceptible to Fusariam Wilt, a fungal disease that is spread by pruning with 'infected' shears/pruners. All those pruning multiple palms are urged to clean the instruments with bleach or something that kills the fungus.

I have just finished a project for a client where I used a canary date palm in a huge planter. The temps can reach up to 45C here and lots of hot winds. I chose the canary palm because it makes a wonderful specimen plant and it withstands heat and sun!