Date Palm
Scientific name: Phoenix dactylifera
POWO Status: Tree
IUCN Red List threat level: Not Evaluated
GPS Location: 17° 42′ 58.86″ N, 64° 49′ 45.73″ W
Observations:
Phenological Markers – Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera)
Common Name: Date Palm
Scientific Name: Phoenix dactylifera L.
Family: Arecaceae (Palm family)
Origin: Native to the Middle East and North Africa; widely cultivated in arid and tropical regions
Form: Medium to tall palm, typically 15–25 meters in height with a straight, single trunk and a rounded crown of feathery fronds
Annual Phenological Cycle
| Phenophase | Typical Timing (St. Croix – Lowland Tropical) | Field Notes |
| Leaf Emergence | Year-round | New fronds emerge continuously; long, pinnate leaves with stiff, gray-green leaflets. |
| Flowering | February – April | Cream-colored flowers on large branched inflorescences; male and female flowers on separate trees (dioecious). |
| Pollination | March – May | Naturally wind-pollinated; cultivated trees often require hand pollination. |
| Fruit Development | April – August | Fruits mature in clusters; start green, ripen to yellow or dark brown depending on variety. |
| Fruit Harvest | July – September | Fruits (dates) are picked when soft, semi-dry, or dry depending on desired use. |
| Leaf Drop | Continuous | Older fronds die and hang downward before being shed or pruned. |
| Dormancy | None | No true dormancy; growth slows slightly in drier periods. |
Identification Notes
- Trunk is often patterned with diamond-shaped leaf scars.
- Fronds can be up to 6 meters long.
- Dates are highly nutritious and one of the earliest cultivated fruits in human history.
- Requires heat and a dry atmosphere for good fruit development but tolerates tropical humidity with limited yield.
- Grown ornamentally in Caribbean landscapes; may not fruit reliably without artificial pollination or arid conditions.