Phoenix roebelenii
Copyright ©
Phil Markey
Family: Arecaceae Palm Tree
Common Name: Pygmy Date Palm
Scientific Synonymy:
Phoenix roebelini,
Common Synonymy:
Dwarf Date Palm, Miniature Date Palm, Pygmy date palm, Roebelin palm. French: Palmier dattier miniature. German: Zwergdattelpalme. Spanish: Fenix robelini, Fenix robelini tronco grueso
Cold Hardiness Zone: 10a View the UK and US zone maps
Phoenix roebelenii Information
Identification
A small to medium sized date palm to about 3m. Has very attractive dark green feather leaves, and spined petioles.
General Information
Rainforest of Laos. It is generally thought that all the plants in cultivation are the result of some past hybridisation, as cultivated plants are all single trunked, yet in the wild, at least in the upper reaches of the Mekong river most are clumping. Personally, I find it hard to believe, as very few other dates flower so late. It's my opinion that what we are witnessing is a case of selection, perhaps the original seeds were selected from only single trunked specimens and we have therefore breed the multi-trunking habit out of it.
Distribution
Distribution information currently being revised.