Phoenix canariensis
Phoenix canariensis
Safety & Hazards
The plant is known as a cause of bronchial asthma in certain individuals, caused by the palm fronds as they senesce and dry out[1].
Cultivation Details
Phoenix canariensis is native to a warm temperate or subtropical climate, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,200 metres. Young plants are very sensitive to frost, though older plants become tolerant of light frosts. It can tolerate a dry season of 4 - 8 months[1]. Requires a sunny position, succeeding in most soils so long as the drainage is excellent[2]. Plants can tolerate short periods of standing water as a result of heavy rains[1]. Tolerant of strong, salt-laden winds and of urban air pollution[1]. The plant can live for two or three centuries, although it is slow growing and does not flower until 6 - 10 years old[3, 1]. Phoenix species are quite liable to hybridize where the various species meet as a result of cultivation[4]. This species is known to hybridize readily with Phoenix dactylifera[1]. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[4].
Propagation
Seed - Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Phoenix+canariensis>
Pollinators
Wind, ?Insects
References
- [1]Invasive Species Compendium — http://www.cabi.org ↩︎An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
- [2]Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants — Ahmed Fayaz · Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand · 2011 · ISBN 978-1-55407-489 ↩︎A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference.
- [3]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
- [4]A Monograph of Phoenix L. (Palmae; Coryphoidede) — Barrow S.C. · 1998 · http://10.2307/4110478 ↩︎
- [5]CosIng — http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/ ↩︎CosIng is the European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients.