Pheonix dactylifera

Pheonix dactylifera.
This is one of the most economically important palms in the world being the main source of dates. The species originated in north Africa and is extensively cultivated there with so many ancient groves, plantations and modern landscaping featuring it, this tree forms the dominant character of the terrain and urban environment. It is a more slender plant than it's Canary Island relative - Pheonix canariensis, it has a sparser more open crown and it's leaves are more silver in colour. In the UK this palm can be grown in southern areas in that are suntraps. It needs the maximum amount of sunlight possible to achieve any kind of growth rate in this country, although it is relatively hardy, withstanding -6 or 8c for short periods. There may be hardier plants that come from colder provenances as there is a very old specimen in Falmouth with about 10m of trunk. 

Photo courtesy of plantsystematics.org. See their link on our resources page.