Date Palm
Phoenix dactylifera
Arecaceae, Palm Family
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.
Psalm 92:12-15 NIV
Find date palm in the NIV God’s Word for Gardeners Bible in Judges 4 & Deuteronomy 16 as part of the Garden Stories theme of Harvest of Righteousness, page a-347
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”
John 12:13 NIV
Cultural Information
| Type | Edible Tree |
| Height | 100 feet or more |
| Soil | good soil drainage is more important than soil quality; sandy soil preferred |
| Exposure | full sun |
| Leaves | large, graceful fronds soar radially from the crown of the tree; evergreen, tough, branch-like with strong central spine and symmetrical, pointed, repeating leaflets fanning out about 18 inches; branches can be 6 to 9 ft. long |
| Flowers | small, cream-colored, individual cup-like blossoms grow along central stem, appear in spring; male and female bloom on separate trees |
| Fruit | thumb-sized, oblong, stout fruits are borne on female trees, with single pit; green fruits turn bright orangy-yellow to deeper bronze-brown as fruits mature in fall |
Planting Tips
- Zone 9 hardiness; needs a sunny, warm exposure with well-watered roots
- date palm maybe propagated by seed or division but best by divided shoot
- fruits produced on female plants only; best to grow from shoots of another female tree
- flowers must be pollenated by male trees, most effectively by hand
- fruits can be messy underfoot so avoid planting near walkways
- water well in first few months; regular watering is necessary throughout the life of the tree
- ample fruit harvests will take 5 years or more from a rooted offshoot tree
- non-bearing trees are just as victorious in the landscape; plant singly as a focal point or in repetition as a regal, upright horticultural columnade
- fruits mature through the fall, one-by-one in the large clusters
- maturing fruits will be damaged by rainfall, so cover clusters with "rain jackets" to preserve harvest
Garden to Table
- young palm fronds lend distinct prominence to table arrangements
- use fresh leaflets from larger leaves to wrap vases and bouquet stems
- leaflets are woven and dried to create placemats, hats, and rope
- fruits are deliciously rustic and sweet; enjoy fresh or dried
- dates can dress up many types of desserts such as cookies, cakes, sorbets, and ice cream treats
- add chopped, dried dates to muffins, cereal, rice dishes, and energy bars
- make date paste to use as sweetener in recipes; soak fruits in water and puree in blender or Cuisinart until smooth, spreadable texture results
- date "honey" or syrups are also available commercially, liquefied dates to pour over ice cream, cereal, pancakes, etc.
More Research
See Blog Posts on Date PalmThough many leaders in Israel and Judah did not prove to be upright, eventually leading the people to a 70-year exile (Daniel 9:2), the prophet Jeremiah voiced God’s promise to send a righteous king, a Savior (Jeremiah 23:5 – 6). Jesus, when he walked among us, was such a leader, fortified like the palm tree to endure insult as he suffered the cross, conferring on us his righteousness (1 Peter 2:23 – 24)
-from the NIV God's Word for Gardeners Bible
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”
John 12:13 NIV
Photo Credits
©2009 Ann-Kristin |Flickr Creative Commons Phoenix dactylifera, photographed in Rhodes Island, Greece
©2007 Luigi Strano|Flickr Creative Commons Phoenix dactylifera, photographed in Catania, Sicily, Italy
©2015 Shelley S. Cramm Fresh supermarket ‘Medjool’ dates rest on palm tree fibers from an old tree trunk
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