Comments on: Pheonix canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm)

By: James Martens-Mullaly

James Martens-Mullaly — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:00:32 +0000

Hi Mike,
Thanks for your query. As I only have limited information on the site and the palm in question, my response is general in nature. As monocots, palms have an adventitious root system composed of a mass of fibrous primary (first order) roots that grow independently and periodically from the root initiation zone located at the base of the trunk. Because of this method of root generation, most palms are tolerant of root severance.
Root severance in cooler climates is best undertaken during late spring to early summer when soil and air temperatures provide a long warm period that promotes root regeneration. In warm regions, timing of root severance is generally not a constraint as climatic conditions are nearly always sufficient to ensure adequate root and shoot growth year round.
Provided your palm is healthy, growing straight, and has a radially symmetrical root system, and provided you did not cut into the base of the trunk, severance of roots on one side is unlikely to kill the tree or make your palm unstable.
Hope this helps,
James

By: Mike Latchford

Mike Latchford — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 05:44:34 +0000

If I sever the roots system on one side of a Canary Island date palm, will this kill the tree or make it unstable or will the roots simply grow back again? I have dug a trench and noted that the roots only go as deep as the “clean” soil and once the roots system hits clay, there were no roots?
Any advice will be very much appreciated.

By: wombat

wombat — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 09:29:59 +0000

DON’T PLANT THESE PLEASE!!

The spines, which barely get mentioned in the post above, are regularly responsible for serious injuries: 20cm long, sharp, likely to break off in the wound and either poisonous or infested with pathogens from rat feces etc., so that infection or at least severe pain and stiffness is the usual result of even a minor wound.

The spines take years to break down in mulch – meaning that one Canary Island Date palm is a huge and ongoing source of these horrible spines.

Majestic they may be – but they’re a pest, they’re weedy and they’re a health hazard. They’re considered an environmental weed in most of South East Australia.

By: James Martens-Mullaly

James Martens-Mullaly — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:11:17 +0000

Thanks for your query Lisa.

If you no longer want your Canary Island Date Palm, removal rather than killing the plant and leaving in situ is generally the safer option. Killing a palm will lead to its structural deterioration; falling fronds or the collapse of the entire head from an established palm can be dangerous. I suggest you contact a local arborist to arrange its removal.
Regards,
James

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:33:05 +0000

How do I kill/ poison one of these plants quickly?

By: David Balsamo

David Balsamo — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:11:54 +0000

Hello Clare. Solitary palms have only one apical meristem (bud) generally located in the center of the crown immediately below the emerging central leaf spears (young leaves). If this bud is killed or severely damaged, the palm will die. Damage to the bud may not become apparent for up to 18 months following injury.

Hope this helps

regards

David Balsamo

By: Clare

Clare — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 07:40:55 +0000

Hi,

I’ve successfully had a rant at a neighbor in the process of cutting down a CIDP, the palm still stands.

Just curious how one would date (no pun intended) the tree. Its about 9m tall and trunk is >1m diameter half way up – very majestic.

Thanks

Clare

By: David Balsamo

David Balsamo — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 05:56:17 +0000

Thanks Penny for the comment.

All palms that develop a trunk regardless of species will not do so until the root initiation zone and apical bud are fully developed. This process can span a number of years depending on local environmental conditions and climate.

When pruning palms, only remove dead, dying, yellow, brown or broken fronds; flower and fruit stalks. Remove loose petioles or boots by hand. If they don’t pull off, leave them on. Palms must never be topped. Solitary palms have only one apical bud. Once the bud is damaged or killed so is the entire palm. The buds of CIDP are between 40 to 60 centimeters from the emergent point of the central leaf spears at the top of the trunk.

Moving palms requires a certain level of expertise and heavy machinery as even small palms like the one you have identified can weigh as much as 3 tonnes. You are best getting an expert (such as Tree Logic) to assist.

regards

David Balsamo

By: Penny

Penny — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:58:27 +0000

I have a 22 – 25 year old ? canary date palm that has not grown a trunk. The base of the palm is approx 800mm in diameter and the top of the central fronds are approx 8 metres from the ground. Is this a certain species that doesn’t go up? Or is it because I’ve only started pruning it regularly in the last few years? Also I am interested in moving it in the garden approximately 6 metres from it’s current position. How is the best way of going about this? I am on the mornington peninsula – westernport bay side.

By: James Martens-Mullaly

James Martens-Mullaly — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:07:52 +0000

Hi Randy,

Without seeing the palms, your description ‘whitish powdery tufts on the older fronds’ does sound insect in nature, possibly a mealybug.

The symptoms observed in older fronds including staining of the frond stem (rachis) and one-sided death of the leaf blade are symptoms common to the diseases Fusarium Wilt and Rachis Blight, both of which affect Canary Island Date Palms. For accurate diagnosis and guidance on appropriate control measures, I suggest you engage the service of a local and suitably experienced arborist.

Best wishes,

James