SENEGAL DATE PALM
This is one of our favorite palms. Not all Reclinata palms are created equal; each one is different. No two look alike, even when germinated from the same mother tree. The trunks always choose their own direction. However, when they angle away from each other properly, or when you selectively remove unnecessary trunks, these trees can be spectacular. But beware, unless a Reclinata is cross-pollinated with another Phoenix family palm, it requires effort to keep it under control. These palms tend to self-propagate, creating a miniature jungle of new growth at the base. We always seek specimen Reclinatas with a good cross-pollination factor. These are what we offer on the market. They are usually large, hard to handle, clumsy to install, and with every additional step, they become more expensive.
Senegal Date Palm trunks, which bend horizontally as the palm ages, may need support with a brace or cable. Thriving in full sun or partial shade, the Senegal Date Palm grows well in any well-drained soil and requires adequate moisture during droughts. This palm is suitable only for the largest residential landscapes due to its size and slow growth rate, making it costly to purchase. Large specimens command a high price.
This beautiful and unusual palm grows in huge clumps, making a striking landscape statement. The Senegal Date Palm varies in shape and form, typically growing in clumps of multiple stems reaching 25 ft (7.6 m) to 50 ft (15 m) in height. These slender stems, covered with brown fiber, curve gracefully away from the clump’s center and are topped by crowns of dark green to yellow-green pinnate fronds. The leaves, 8-15 ft (2.4-4.5 m) long and about 3 ft (0.9 m) wide, recurve attractively toward the ground. The leaf stem is armored with sharp needles near the trunk.
Without pruning, the tree can grow into a tangled mass of stems and leaves. A more attractive specimen can be achieved by removing many suckers and trimming lower fronds to highlight the gracefully curving stems. The Senegal Date Palm readily hybridizes with other Phoenix species in the landscape. Some hybrids naturally have an open aspect with fewer suckers, making them the most attractive specimens.