Phoenix Dactylifera Medjool
(fe-niks dak-till-lf-er-ah med-jewel)Origin: North Africa
Ornamental beauty at its best - alone or in a row
- Cold tolerant to zone 8. Belt one salt tolerance.
- Available in matching sizes from 8' to 30' foot of clear trunk.
- Heavy canopies, silvery green to dark green fronds.
- More tropical in appearance then other varieties.
Identifying Characteristics
Thick canopy of silvery green to dark green. Fronds tend to arch out and downward creating a more tropical look then with other varieties. Wide leaflets and a high frond count give Medjool canopies a lush, stunning appearance. Medjools on site appear larger then life and will tend to diminish everything around them. Definitely a focal point.Canopy spread after one year on site, 25 feet from frond tip to tip.
Average trunk caliper of 18-20 inches. The petiole layer is removed by hand using the "Classic Cut" harvesting method. Classic cutting yields a distinctive raised diamond shape trunk appearance that is beautiful and functional.
Commonly, the lower two feet of trunk has a layer of advantageous aerial roots covering it. These roots are normal and can be planted into the ground provided the palms are installed in clean sand. Most people prefer that we plant as high as possible as the palms are sold by the foot of trunk and the aerial roots comprise a portion of that measurement. If you do choose to plant with the aerial root showing, they are easily hidden from view with under plantings.
Medjools can grow to as tall as 70 feet and even taller in the desert. However, the growth rate is very slow and is slowed further by our wet conditions. It is best to buy palms near or slightly below the size you need. They are very slow growers and you can expect a foot of new trunk every two to four years.
Environmental Behavior
- Cold Tolerance: Zones 8a-11
- Drought Tolerance: High
- Salt Tolerance: High
- Light Requirements: High
- Wind Tolerance: High
- Soil Requirements: Adaptable
- Moisture Tolerance: Good
- Nutritional Req.: Moderate
You can contact Groundworks at any time to find out about our current availability. We are happy to answer your questions and appreciate your interest. If need be, we can email pictures of specific palms.
