Dwarf Date Palm

Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii) gives you the look of a full sized date palm at a scale that fits a courtyard. It reaches about 2.5m tall and 2m wide, holding a tight crown of finely divided arching fronds on a single stout trunk. It is slow, tidy and drought tolerant once established, which is why it turns up beside so many pools and entries. One thing to know first: each frond carries sharp spines near its base, so position matters.

Why you'll love it

• Proper palm character in a small space. A recognisable trunk and a full crown at around 2.5m, rather than the height a true date palm would demand.
• Fine, soft looking foliage. The fronds are far more finely divided than most palms, which reads as delicate against a rendered wall.
• It takes real heat and dry. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and salt tolerant, so an inland summer or an exposed beachside courtyard suits it.
• Excellent in a large pot. Slow growth and a compact root system mean it can sit in the same container for many years.

Where it works best

Poolside and paved areas. The crown throws dappled shade, the trunk stays slim, and there is no heavy leaf drop into the water. Keep it back from the edge.

Feature and entry planting. A matched pair either side of a doorway or driveway works well, and a single specimen in a bed reads as a focal point without dominating it.

Pots and small gardens. A 500mm or larger pot suits it long term, and its restrained size makes it one of the few palms that belongs in a narrow front garden.

Growing the Dwarf Date Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with full sun giving the fullest crown. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and arid or semi arid gardens, and it handles light frost only. In cool temperate and frost prone districts, keep it potted and move it under cover in winter.

Soil. Free draining above all, with sand and sandy loam ideal. On clay, plant on a raised mound and work compost through the bed. Mulch 50mm deep, kept off the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then reduce. Plants in the ground need water only in prolonged dry spells, although pots need it far more often. Feed with a palm fertiliser in early spring and late summer.

Pruning and handling. Remove fronds only once they have browned off fully, and wear thick gloves and long sleeves. The spines at the base of each frond are stiff and sharp, and a puncture from them can become infected, so keep the palm clear of paths and play areas.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in seven sizes. Tube stock is the value option for a group planting if you are prepared to wait, since this is a slow palm. The 200mm pack of six suits a repeated planting, the 300mm and 400mm are the usual pot choices, and the 90L, 100L and 160L arrive with a formed trunk and full crown.

Plants are packed upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. A frond or two may be creased from transit, and the crown fills back out as new growth pushes through. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full palm range
• Golden Cane Palm for clumping screens
• Lady Palm for shaded positions

Common questions

How big does it actually get?

About 2.5m tall and 2m wide in a garden, and it takes many years to get there. In a pot it stays smaller again.

Are the spines a real problem?

They are worth taking seriously. Each frond has stiff sharp spines near its base, so plant it away from paths and play areas, and wear gloves whenever you prune.

Will it grow in Perth or Adelaide?

Yes, in frost free and lightly frosted parts of both, and it is well suited to hot dry summers.