DATE PALM

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) has a commanding presence. Its arching, gray-green, waxy fronds can reach more than 10 feet long, forming a stately crown at the top of the tree. Panicles of pale yellow flowers generally appear in the spring. And they give way to the edible oblong fruits (the dates) that begin as green and then typically turn brown as they ripen. The palm is slow-growing, gaining a few feet per year on average. It can be planted in the spring or fall.