This handsome palm is the Toddy Palm, Phoenix sylvestris.

It has a tall, straight trunk and a dense crown of long, arching, feather-shaped leaves. The leaflets are narrow and stiff, and the lower leaflets are modified into sharp spines, so it should be approached with care.

Male and female flowers are produced on separate palms. Female trees develop hanging clusters of oval fruits that ripen from green to yellowish-orange or reddish-brown.

The name “Toddy Palm” comes from the sweet sap that can be collected from the flower stalks or trunk. In its native range, the sap is used to make palm sugar and may also be fermented into a traditional drink called toddy.

The fruits are related to commercial dates, but they are smaller and contain much less flesh.

Phoenix sylvestris is native to the Indian subcontinent and is widely planted in warm climates as an ornamental. Its silvery-green foliage and strong, symmetrical form make it especially attractive in avenues and open landscapes.

Although it is valued for its appearance, in its native region the Toddy Palm is also an important working tree, providing sap, sugar, fiber, and other useful materials.