Linacre Plants

Phoenix Roebelenii

Pygmy date palm grows along rivers and streams in Laos, Vietnam and southern China. The 3-to 5 inch thick trunk is covered in old leaf bases and fibres except at in its older part, which displays knobby leaf scars. The three to 5 foot long shiny dark green leaves are made up of leaflets borne along stems armed with long spines. The fruit is black. The form and habitat of the Pigmy date palm in cultivation are different from those of wilde plants.Cultivated specimens have solitary, erect stems, with large, fully rounded crowns or leaves, while those in the wild are clustering palms with curving and twisting, thinner trunks and sparse crown.

Care: The Roebelenii does best in acid to neutral soil but tolerates somewhat alkaline soil containing a moderate amount of organic matter. It needs regular water and fertilizer. Plants grown in high alkaline soil sometimes develop a manganese deficiency. The palm has no major disease or pest problems. It is not very salt tolerant. Indoors the plant needs bright light. The plant’s compact size makes it very versatile. It can be used as a focal point either on his own or surrounded by other foliage plants. Roebelenii makes a delightful container plant outdoor or indoor. It likes light shade or full sun. Drought tolerant minimum temperature 30^oF, -1^oC