
Date palm
Phoenix dactylifera
- Layer 1 · Canopy
- Edible companion
Status by region
No restrictions recorded in the lists we checked.
Checked against the European Union list (Regulation 1143/2014) · Portugal's national invasive species list (Decreto-Lei 92/2019).
Information based on the cited sources, not legal advice — always confirm your local rules.
About
Native to North Africa and the Middle East, the date palm is an imposing and iconic oasis palm. It produces very sweet dates and creates a beneficial shaded microclimate for lower layers in the food forest.
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Needs
- Water: Medium
- Light: Full sun
- Size: Palm tree up to 20 m
- Mature diameter: 5 m
- Soils: Loam, Sandy, Limestone
- Climates: Hot, dry Mediterranean
Calendar
- January
- February
- March
- April — Planting
- May — Planting
- June — Planting
- July
- August
- September — Harvest
- October — Harvest
- November — Harvest
- December — Harvest
- Harvest
- Planting
Medicinal use: The fruits are highly nutritious, rich in natural sugars and fibre, consumed fresh or dried.
Where to buy
Related plants
Other species in the same layer or with the same function.
See the guild for a date palm on your land
Tell us where your land is and we'll show the companion plants that grow well with this tree.
No account needed.
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