Phoenix roebelenii, commonly known as the pygmy date palm, is one of the most widely used palm trees in landscaping. This small variety of palm tree grows about 6 inches to 2 feet per year. Pygmy date palms grow in any type of well-drained soil, but prefer sandy loam in the U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 10 and 11. Plants may be sold as dioecious, either male or female flowering trees. You need one male and one female to produce creamy flowers in the spring, cross-pollinate and produce small black dates in the fall. With their delicate fronds and petite stature, pygmy date palms add an exotic look to gardens and landscaping within U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 to 11. They propagate most reliably from seeds and will steadily put on growth during their first few years, eventually reaching a mature height of 8 to 10 feet. The seeds take up to three months to sprout.
Growing Instructions
1. Soak the seed in water for 24 hours.
2. Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half sand, perlite or vermiculite.
3. Put the mixture in a pot with drainage holes in the base.
4. Water the mixture so that it is moist but not wet.
5. Put the seeds on the soil.
6. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.
7. Water the seeds and keep the soil moist but not wet.
8. Place the pots in an area with warm temperatures in full sun or part shade.
9. When the seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.