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Scientific name	Phoenix dactylifera
Common name	Date palm
Temperature	25-35 °C
Humidity	40-50%
Light	full sun
Watering	Water everyday &keep moist
Pests	Red palm weevil,, lesser date moth, green pit scale
Pet friendliness	Not hazardous
Maximum plant height	30m
Potting mix	Potting soil/red soil/manure/perlite
Pot requirement	Good drainage&repot every 1-2 years
Nutrition	Apply manure for first 15 days and npk for next 15 days
Pruning & training	Remove dead & diseased leaves with sterile shears
Common color & season
Description	It grows slowly to a height of 25-30 meters and a spread of 12 meters. It may take 15 years to attain 3 meters. The stiff, sharp-pointed, pinnate leaves are over 3 meters long. The length and shape of the leaves vary according to the cultivars. A tree can form 10–20 leaves a year, depending on the cultivar and agricultural practices. The floral buds in the axils of the leaves bring forth spikes of small, yellowish flowers from late February to may. Date palms are naturally wind pollinated, but on farms they are manually pollinated by skilled laborer’s; a male tree produces enough pollen to pollinate up to 50 female trees. When pollinated, female trees produce large pendulous clusters of cylindrical orange to brown fruits, which stand out from the base of the fronds. Dates when unripe, they range from red to bright yellow in color. The date palm requires full sun, but will tolerate shade. Trees are frost resistant. Being drought tolerant, regular irrigation is necessary for good fruits, and the plants appreciate deep watering in summer. In winter, a tree will need only half of the summer irrigation rate. The tree prefers well drained, deep, sandy loams and tolerates salinity. It is best planted in late spring or summer. Date palms require good and regular fertilizing. Tree hole lancing with a mixture of sand and fertilizer in spring is also very effective. Propagation is by seed or best from suckers. Date palms are affected by many pests, which attack the trunk and growing points. The most dangerous is the red palm weevil (rhynchophorus ferruginous), which is difficult to detect in the early stages of infestation. The initial signs are holes and the oozing of a brown viscous liquid on the trunk or in the crown. Eventually, the entire crown of the tree will wither and begin to fall off. This is now a worldwide problem. Weak or transplanted large specimens seem to be the main victims. Other pests are leaf skeletonizes and scale insects. Date palms require intensive maintenance and cultivation. Date palms are easily transplanted to new locations and there are specific procedures for this. The date palm is a magnificent, all round tree, spectacular in culture on farms, and it lends itself splendidly to landscape design in gulf regions. It makes a beautiful, almost ceremonial roadside tree. Seen on a skyline, it produces an oasis effect. Too large for most small gardens, it is an excellent park tree, as a specimen or background planting or for shade on pathways. It is also effective when planted near tall buildings.