Common Name:
silver date palm
Family Name:
Arecaceae
Botanical Name:
Phoenix sylvestris
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Phoenix sylvestris is a solitary, palm that typically grows to 15 m (49 ft) tall with a canopy width of 2.5-4.5 m (8-15 ft) and a trunk diameter up to 45 cm (18 in) Trunk is textured and marked by prominently raised, diamond-shaped leaf scars (1, 2, 4). Mature trunks often display above-ground roots, and the base may be swollen or fibrous due to persistent leaf bases (1, 4). The canopy is dense and rounded, supported by pinnate, induplicate leaves that may reach 4–5 m (13–16 ft) in length (1, 2, 4). These blue-green fronds have narrow, arching leaflets arranged in twos and threes on several planes along the rachis (1, 4). The petiole is 0.5–1 m (1.5–3 ft) long and armed with sharp basal spines (1, 4). Yellow inflorescences, around 1 m (3 ft) long, emerge among the leaves and bear small white flowers. The species is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants (1, 4). Its ovoid fruits are orange when immature and ripen to dark red or purple, measuring up to 2.5 cm (1 in) long (1, 4). Growth is slow to moderate, typically less than 1 m (1–3 ft) per year under ideal conditions (3).
Compound:
Pho syl
Geographic Origin:
India
Ecozone Origin:
Indomalaya
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
Phoenix sylvestris is native to India and southern Pakistan, and it is also found in Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and as far east as Myanmar and parts of southern China (1, 4, 5). It grows wild or is cultivated across the Indian subcontinent, thriving in lowland scrub forests, plains, seasonally inundated wastelands, and coastal zones (1, 4). The Latin species epithet “sylvestris” means “of the forest,” while “Phoenix” is derived from Greek, referencing the date palms (1). While morphologically similar to Phoenix canariensis, it is smaller, faster-growing, and not susceptible to red palm weevil (3). Natural hybridization with other Phoenix species is possible, sometimes causing complications when trying to identify the plant (4).
Cultivation Notes:
The silver date palm is drought tolerant, moderately salt tolerant, and cold hardy to USDA Zone 8b-9a, surviving temperatures as low as (9.4°C (15°F) (1, 2, 3, 5). It grows best in full sun but can tolerate partial shade and should be gradually acclimated to full sun if nursery-grown under shade cloth (2). This palm prefers moist but well-drained, rich organic soils, but it is highly adaptable and can grow in sandy, loamy, or clay substrates with a pH range from mildly acidic to slightly alkaline (2, 5). It grows in area that receive average annual precipitation of 400 – 800 mm. Containerized specimens are suitable for patios or indoor relocation in colder regions (2). Fertilization should be done 2-3 times annually using a high-quality, slow-release palm fertilizer to avoid nutritional deficiencies, particularly potassium and magnesium (2, 3). Routine pruning of dead fronds is recommended to maintain aesthetic value and prevent skirt formation (3).
Ethnobotany:
In India, Phoenix sylvestris has long been tapped for its sweet sap, which is either consumed fresh, fermented into toddy (hence the common name “Toddy Palm”), or concentrated into jaggery, a traditional sugar (1, 3, 5). Sap tapping occurs from the unopened inflorescence, yielding up to 5 liters (1.25 gal) per day and containing about 14% sugar (5). The fruit is edible, though considered of inferior quality compared to that harvested from other date palms, and is occasionally processed into jelly (1, 5). The leaves are also used in rural craft to make mats and bags (3). Its attractive appearance and low maintenance requirements have led to increased use in ornamental landscaping across the southern United States, from Georgia to Oregon, particularly on golf courses and luxury developments (2, 3).
Height:
20 - 50 feet
Width:
11 - 15 feet
Growth Rate:
Slow Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
ForeSummer
Color:
White
Function:
Accent
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Moderate Water Use
Citations:
- Palmpedia, Retrieved April 6, 2025
- UrbanPalms, Retrieved April 6, 2025
- Palmco, Retrieved April 9, 2025
- Identification
Technology Program,
Retrieved April 10, 2025
- Plants for a
Future,
Retrieved April 11, 2025
