Medjool Date Palm

Phoenix dactylifera 'Medjool'

Light

Water

Deeply irrigate throughout the root zone, allowing the upper soil to dry between waterings. Established palms tolerate drought, but healthy growth and quality fruit require substantial, regular irrigation, especially during summer.

Size

50-80 ft tall × 20-30 ft wide

Habit

Palm – single-trunk

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Description

A stately date palm with a stout trunk and arching, featherlike fronds. Female Medjool palms produce large, sweet dates in Phoenix when properly pollinated and irrigated.

Bloom Time

Spring

Deciduous / Evergreen

Evergreen

Special Features

Architectural Form, Edible, Heat Tolerant

Growth Rate

Slow to moderate

Growth Habit

Palm – single-trunk

Mature Size

50-80 ft tall × 20-30 ft wide

Flower Color

Cream to yellow

Foliage Color

Blue-green to gray-green

Landscape Use

Container / Patio, Edible / Orchard, Poolside

Garden Style

Edible Garden, Tropical

Soil

Alkaline Tolerant, Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained

Companion Plants

Desert spoon, Red yucca, Texas sage, Trailing lantana

Non-toxic

Non-toxic (fruit edible)

Care Instructions

Light: Full sun; thrives in Phoenix heat.

Water: Deeply irrigate throughout the root zone, allowing the upper soil to dry between waterings. Established palms tolerate drought, but healthy growth and quality fruit require substantial, regular irrigation, especially during summer.

Soil: Well-drained sandy or loamy soil; tolerates alkaline soils and some salinity. Avoid persistently wet soil and poorly drained planting sites.

Mature size: Typically 50–80 feet tall and 20–30 feet wide; may grow taller with age.

Bloom: Flowers in late winter to spring once mature; pollinated fruit generally ripens in late summer to fall in Phoenix.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen.

Growth rate: Slow to moderate; faster with adequate warmth, irrigation, and nutrition.