Hyphaene thebaica
Hyphaene thebaica
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
A surprisingly tolerant palm, found naturally in tropical and subtropical arid to semiarid areas at elevations from sea level to 1,400 metres[1, 2]. It is able to tolerate temperate climates, but prefers a mean annual temperature above 28°c[1, 2]. It grows wild in areas where the mean annual rainfall is 100 - 600mm, but can also tolerate growing in areas of much higher rainfall, as long as the drainage is good (there is a very large Doum palm in the Singapore Botanic Gardens)[2]. Requires a sunny, very well drained position[2]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils[1]. Tolerates medium salinity[1]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5[1]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[2]. Growth is known to be relatively slow, and after germination a single strip-shaped leaf is produced, with fan-shaped leaves being produced at ground level 2 - 3 years after germination. At this stage, a new leaf is produced every 7 days and the stem is produced after 18 - 20 years[1]. Trees can commence fruiting when about 6 - 8 years old[1]. Mature trees of 6 - 8 years can produce 50 kilos of fruit per year[1]. A fire-resistant species, it is managed by coppicing and lopping[1]. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[1]. Hermaphrodite trees do occur rarely, but their fruits are smaller and sterile[1],
Propagation
Seed - best sown in containers. When planting the seed, make sure to use a very deep pot, since the seed sends down a very long trap root, or 'sinker'. Plant out into its permanent position as soon as the plant is large enough. The plant sometimes produces root suckers that can be used for propagation[3]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Hyphaene+thebaica>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
- [2]Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia. — http://www.pacsoa.org.au/ ↩︎Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
- [3]Trees and Shrubs of the Sahel. Their Characteristics and Uses. — von Maydell H. · Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit; Germany · 1990 · ISBN 3-8236-1198-4 ↩︎A well-researched book, usually with more than one photograph of each species and good information on the plant and its uses.
- [4]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [5]Dictionary of Economic Plants. — Uphof. J. C. Th. · Weinheim · 1959 · ISBN - ↩︎An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
- [6]Cornucopia II — Facciola. S. · Kampong Publications, California. · 1998 · ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 ↩︎The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
- [7]Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory — Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M. · U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service · 1987 ↩︎A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
- [8]Nuts. — Howes. F. N. · Faber · 1948 · ISBN - ↩︎Rather old but still a masterpiece. Has sections on tropical and temperate plants with edible nuts plus a section on nut plants in Britain. Very readable.
- [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎