Phoenix reclinata
Reclinata Date Palm, Senegal Date, African Wild DateFamily: Arecaceae / Palmae
Origin: Africa, Zambia, Madagascar and the Comoro Islands
The Senegal Date Palm is variable in shape and form but tends to grow as clumps composed of multiple stems reaching 25 ft to 50 ft in height. These slender stems are covered with brown fiber and tend to curve away from the center of the clump in graceful arcs. The Senegal Date Palm readily hybridizes with the many other species of Phoenix that are found in the landscape. The fruit, called a date, follows the female flower. It is similar to the dates we buy in the store but is smaller and has less flesh and is mostly seed - they also don't taste very good although they are edible. Break open the date and wash several pits. Plant them 1 to 3 inches deep in a starter mix. The time for germination varies, but it could be as long as two months. Keep the container in a warm place with good humidity. (Placing the entire pot inside a closed plastic bag is a good way to maintain high humidity.) In most plants the seed cotyledon that acts as a reservoir for food usually emerges from the top of the seed and sprouts directly out of the ground-not so with the date. It comes from the bottom and travels through the soil (like a root), coming up many inches later. When this root is about an inch long above the soil, it is time to transplant to a large tub of rich soil so the plant can grow on. In a few weeks the sprout will be joined by another. Give the plant plenty of sun, good moisture, and occasional feeding to keep it growing.
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