Help ID this date palm!

[Jsm1986]

Hi all!

 

3 - 4 years ago I got some dates, ate them and grew them, haha. I gave most away but I kept my favorite one (the super silvery looking one). It had about 2 stringy but silver fonds when I planted in ground. I actually have a brahea super silver that is less silvery than this thing.

 

It is growing like crazy, and it has 3 or 4 offshoots growing all over it. It’s ridiculously happy! The offshoots are all up top (not suckering from the bottom).

 

The Fonds are very short, they do not stoop down, and they are very stiff! I love this thing.

 

When I google Medjool they look droopy, while this looks very stiff. I remember reading the dates were from Iran, I was surprised it grew because I figured import fruit would be zapped and sterile. I’m zone 9b.

 

I will attach some pics!

[Jim in Los Altos]

Very pretty Phoenix Palm but please don’t trim off viable green leaves. It reduces the palms photosynthesis and therefore reduces carbohydrate production and It will slow or stunt growth. 

[JubaeaMan138]

Phoenix dactylifera 

[96720]

When you grow a palm from seed you never know what you get to get a medjool you need to start with and offshoot!!!

[Merlyn]

That looks like a great start on a Dactylifera.  It may be Medjool, since a lot (or most?) commercially sold dates are Medjool.  I think.    The fronds don't get to drooping until they start going close to horizontal, at which point they are 10-20 feet long.  Otherwise they are mostly rigid and vertical.  You can check out verified photos at Palmpedia, it's a great resource for palm IDs: https://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Phoenix_dactylifera

My only concern for your spot is that they get big and stabby, and it's right next to a walkway.  It might need aggressive pruning and still be super-clustery like this palmpedia photo:

[Jsm1986]

Thank you all for the information! Yeah I figured it wouldn’t produce dates but that would be amazing if it did.

if it clustered like the one in the photo I would be quite busy haha.

Thanks again

[Fusca]

14 minutes ago, Jsm1986 said:

if it clustered like the one in the photo I would be quite busy haha.

Nice looking palm!  It looks like you already have some suckers started (photos 2-4) so it'll keep you busy for sure!  Even when you cut them off they keep coming.  Phoenix palms are dioecious palms so you need a male and a female to produce viable seeds.  @kinzyjr has a dactylifera that he grew from seed that is now producing viable seeds.  😊

12 hours ago, Jsm1986 said:

I actually have a brahea super silver that is less silvery than this thing.

Brahea super silver stay green as a juvenile for a while before turning silver - I also have one that's been in the ground for over a year from a 5-gal size that is still green.  They are awesome palms and should be planted more.

[JohnStraz]

it is Phoenix dactylifera but it is most likely madjool variety