# Date Palm (*Senegal date palm phytoplasma*)

The Date Palm is a tall tree with a trunk that grows straight up. It has long, feathery leaves that look like green fans!

- **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 1
- **Habitat:** Deserts and warm places
- **Also known as:** Khajur, Medjool Palm

![Date Palm](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425846/objects/4835.jpg)

## Appearance

The Date Palm has a tall, slender, unbranched trunk topped with a crown of long, feathery, grey-green fronds. Its trunk is often scarred with old leaf bases, giving it a distinctive textured look. Clusters of sweet, brownish-orange dates hang beneath the canopy.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Arecales
- **Family:** Arecaceae
- **Genus:** Phoenix

## Interesting facts

- A single date palm tree can produce up to 300 pounds of dates in a year!
- Date palm fronds were used to weave baskets, mats, and even house roofs!
- Dates are one of the oldest cultivated fruits, grown for over 7,000 years!
- Many cultures call the date palm the 'Tree of Life' for its many uses.

## Special abilities

- **Desert Survivor:** Date Palms can tolerate extreme heat and drought thanks to their deep roots and waxy fronds.
- **Water Seeker:** Date Palm has an extensive root system that can reach deep underground to find precious water.
- **Salt Shield:** Date Palm can grow in salty soils, a rare adaptation that helps it thrive where other plants fail.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 15-30 m
- **Spread:** 6-10 m
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Size:** 30-60 cm
- **Lifespan:** 100-200 years
- **Fruit Type:** Drupe
- **Growth Rate:** Medium
- **Leaf Type:** Evergreen

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Egyptian fruit bat (*Rousettus aegyptiacus*) — Consumes ripe dates, aiding in seed dispersal.
- **Shelter:** Rock Dove (*Columba livia*) — Nests among the protective fronds of the date palm.
- **Eats:** [Rhinoceros beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rhinoceros-beetle) (*Oryctes rhinoceros*) — Larvae bore into palm trunks, feeding on internal tissues.
- **Depends on:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Cultivates date palms for their nutritious fruit and other products.

## Traits

- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fruit Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-tree): A fruit tree is a perennial tree that produces fruit, which is edible to humans or animals.
- [Oil Crop](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/oil-crop): This human use trait identifies species cultivated as oil crops, harvested for their seeds or fruits from which vegetable oils are extracted for food, fuel, or industrial uses.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Desert](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/desert): Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.

## Collections

- [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Date Palm?

Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Date Palm?

15-30 m

### How wide does Date Palm spread?

6-10 m

### Is Date Palm edible?

Yes

### How big is Date Palm?

30-60 cm

### How long does Date Palm live?

100-200 years

### Where is Date Palm usually found?

Deserts and warm places

### What kind of fruit does Date Palm produce?

Drupe

## Where to spot

- [King Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/king-ranch) — Texas, US · Historic Site
- [Huerto del Cura Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/huerto-del-cura-garden) — Comunitat Valenciana, ES · Park

## More Trees

- [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*)
- [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*)
- [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*)
- [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*)

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Source: [Date Palm: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/date-palm)