Plant field guide
Pygmy Date Palm
A delicate, refined miniature date palm with graceful arching fronds and a slender, slightly rough trunk. Perfect scale for residential landscapes and containers. Often planted in multiples for an elegant tropical effect. Native to Southeast Asia.
Growing requirements
- Scientific name
- Phoenix roebelenii
- Sun
- partial shade
- Water
- moderate
- Height
- 48 in (122 cm) – 96 in (244 cm)
- Spread
- 48 in (122 cm) – 72 in (183 cm)
- Spacing
- 48 in (122 cm)
- Hardiness zones & minimum temperature
- USDA 10–11; average annual extreme minimum from 30°F (-1.1°C). Hardiness does not predict local frost dates.
- Difficulty
- easy
Planting & seasonal timing
Northern Hemisphere planting months: not yet verified in our database.
Northern Hemisphere pruning months: March, April.
For the Southern Hemisphere, these seasonal windows shift approximately six months. Check your local frost forecast, soil temperature, and species requirements; calendar months are not a guarantee of planting safety.
Best in part shade to full sun. Sensitive to cold — bring containers indoors below 32°F. Moderately drought tolerant once established. Prune only dead fronds.
Pruning
Remove only fully dead fronds. Cut close to the trunk without leaving stubs.
Fertilizer
Palm fertilizer (8-2-12 + micronutrients)
3x per year: spring, summer, and fall
Mulch
2–3 inches of organic mulch.