Canary Island Date Palm

Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis) is the grand avenue palm of Australia's older streets and formal drives. It eventually reaches about 10m tall with a dense, symmetrical crown around 6m across on a single massive trunk, and the word is eventually: this palm builds slowly, over decades. That is why established specimens are prized, and why we sell everything from starter pots to ex ground trees with 5m and 7m of clear trunk.

Why you'll love it

• Real presence. A broad crown of arching deep green fronds on a thick sculptural trunk, the palm that defines formal avenues and period gardens.
• Almost indestructible. It tolerates drought, heat, salt laden coastal wind and frost once established, a tougher package than nearly any other feature palm.
• Grows in most of the country. Tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens all suit it.
• Low maintenance. One trunk, no suckering, and nothing to do beyond removing spent fronds.
• Buy the size you need. Slow growth means the size you plant is the size you live with, so an advanced palm buys decades.

Where it works best

Driveways and avenues. This is the classic use. Space avenue palms at least 6m apart so the mature crowns just meet, set well back so fronds stay clear of vehicles.

Feature planting. A single palm in lawn or gravel carries a large garden on its own. Uplighting the trunk earns its keep here.

Coastal and poolside gardens. Salt and wind tolerance make it reliable near the beach, and an established palm shades a pool surround without constant leaf litter.

Growing Canary Island Date Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun in any frost free to moderately frosty climate. Established palms are frost hardy; young ones want protection through their first cold winters in inland and southern gardens.

Soil. Any free draining soil. It is not fussy about fertility, though it establishes faster in improved ground.

Water and feed. Water deeply through the first two summers, then it manages on the weather in most districts. A palm specific fertiliser in spring and again in late summer keeps the crown full and green.

Pruning. Remove fronds only once fully brown. Wear gloves and eye protection, because the frond bases carry long, sharp spines, and hire a professional once the crown is above ladder height.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell this palm as 200mm pots in packs of 6, single 300mm and 400mm pots, 45L, and advanced 90L, 160L and 200L stock, plus ex ground specimens with 5m and 7m of clear trunk. Small pots are juvenile plants still in their strappy leaf stage, a long term project at a low price. Palms travel well, and plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our guide to growing date palms in Australia.
• Compare species in the essential overview of palm tree varieties.
• Browse the full palm tree collection.
• See large palms for instant impact.

Common questions

How fast does it grow?

Slowly. Allow decades to reach full size, with a modest number of new fronds each year. If you want scale in your lifetime, buy the largest specimen the budget allows.

Are the spines a problem?

They can be. The lower frond bases carry long, rigid spines, so plant it where people will not brush past, and treat pruning as a gloves and eye protection job. On trunked specimens the crown sits safely overhead.

Will it handle frost?

Yes, once established it is frost hardy and grows in cool inland towns as well as the coast. Protect young palms for their first two or three winters in cold districts.

Is it suitable near a pool?

Yes. It holds its fronds rather than shedding constantly, tolerates the reflected heat of paving, and the crown shades a pool surround well. Keep young, ground level palms a few metres back from paths until the trunk lifts the spined fronds overhead.