Common Name:

General Information

Phoenix canariensis is a single-stemmed, evergreen palm tree producing a crown of leaves at the top of an unbranched stem. The stem is usually up to 15 metres tall, occasionally reaching 20 metres, and is up to 120cm in diameter (excluding leaf sheaths). The arching leaves can be are around 5 - 6 metres long[].
The plant is commonly harvested from the wild for its sweet-tasting sap, and also provides fibrous leaves that are used locally to weave into various products. This is one of the most commonly grown ornamentals in the world, and it is extensively cultivated in warm temperate regions as a street tree or garden plant[]
Phoenix canariensis is endemic to the Canary Islands but with a much wider non-native distribution due to its widespread use in cultivation. The species is impacted by hybridisation with the Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) as well as infestation by weevil pests and increased fires and habitat loss. However the species is found in several protected areas and is protected by law. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[].
The plant is one of the most commonly grown and appreciated ornamental palms of the world. It has recently been noted naturalising and becoming invasive in southern California and northern New Zealand, mostly in riverine wetland and coastal habitats. Planted widely, the seeds are eaten and spread by birds, and can be washed down watercourses where established. However, control is likely to prove less difficult as compared with other invasive plants[]..

Known Hazards

The plant is known as a cause of bronchial asthma in certain individuals, caused by the palm fronds as they senesce and dry out[].

Botanical References

Range

Macaronesia - Canary Islands

Habitat

Often forming large groves, it is found in or near ravines, often close to Salix canariensis habitat, and colluvial soils within thermophilous forest and Euphorbia shrub; at elevations up to 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind, ?Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Phoenix canariensis is native to a warm temperate or subtropical climate, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,200 metres. Young plants are very sensitive to frost, though older plants become tolerant of light frosts. It can tolerate a dry season of 4 - 8 months[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in most soils so long as the drainage is excellent[]. Plants can tolerate short periods of standing water as a result of heavy rains[]. Tolerant of strong, salt-laden winds and of urban air pollution[].
The plant can live for two or three centuries, although it is slow growing and does not flower until 6 - 10 years old[, ].
Phoenix species are quite liable to hybridize where the various species meet as a result of cultivation[]. This species is known to hybridize readily with Phoenix dactylifera[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

Inflorescence buds are tapped for the sweet sap which is eaten as palm honey[].
Palm honey is produced from sap (guarapo) harvested from the palm, especially on La Gomera and the harvest is economically significant[]

Fruit[]. Fleshy[]. Rarely consumed, it is not very tasty and often very astringent[]. The obovoid fruit is around 15 - 20mm long and 12mm wide, ripening from yellow- green to golden-yellow and containing a single, large seed[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Especially when growing in drier areas, the plant is seen as an indicator of ground water[].

Other Uses

The fibrous leaflets are used in much the same way as those of P. dactylifera for a range of woven products including crosses for Palm Sunday celebrations[, ].

An extract of the leaves is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin protector[].

The stems are used locally for construction[].

Propagation

Seed -