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There are many kinds of date palm (Phoenix species are called date palms). The more common date palm is the "true" date palm (and it's many selections like the delicious Medjool date), the massive Canary Island date palm (P. canariensis) and the popular pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) that is often grown as a houseplant. In addition to these are several other Phoenix species that are just as impressive if not more so. One of these is the cliff date palm (P. rupicola). It's not commonly used in landscapes but has some very nice qualities among which are that it is incredibly graceful and beautiful. The cliff date palm, growing to only about 20 ft (6.1 m), is smaller than the more commonly planted Canary Island and true date palms. It is a tidier tree with a a neater appearance as the trunk is clean, not retaining the old leaf bases like other date species. As the leaves die they are shed leaving a smooth trunk ringed with narrow scars at the point of attachment. It is the canopy of fronds that really sets this Phoenix palm apart from the rest. The leaves, which grow to about 10 ft (3.1 m) long are bright green color and are arranged in plane on the stem which gives the fronds a flat appearance that combined with their unique, natural curving, arching and twisting form results in a very graceful palm. The purplish red fruit is about 0.75 in (1.9 cm) long and has a thin layer of edible flesh although the fruit is not this palm?s best quality.
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Features Jack Scheper 10/04/99; updated 10/30/04
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