The beautiful Dwarf Date Palm can help cleanse the air in you home.
The Dwarf Date Palm (aka: pygmy date palm) is a member of family Arecacea, an enormous group with over 2,600 species growing in tropical and sub-tropical zones of the world.
This particular type is called the date palm because the small yellow flowers on the female trees give way to purplish dates once fertilized.
Palms have numerous graceful arching frond-like leaves that branch directly from the trunk and the dwarf or pygmy variety can reach a height of six to ten feet.
In the wild (Southeast Asia and Africa), they grow in the dense underbrush along riverbanks, in full sun to partial shade. They don’t like a whole lot of direct sunlight, but a little will be all it needs.
- Tip: Try a south- or east-facing window.
Your palm will want plenty of water so plant it in sandy, well-drained soil and keep a regular watering schedule.
Further, Date palms prefer temperatures above 50 degrees F (up to 75 degrees) so keep them away from cold drafts during Winter.
It’s easy to keep a pygmy palm tree pruned, too – just snip off the dry or damaged fronds at the trunk. They’re slow growers, so have patience and you’ll have a full-sized tree in no time.
However, if you see chlorotic or spotted fronds, your palm likely needs a good dose of magnesium or potassium. Feed your palm with a slow-release granular fertilizer only while it’s actively growing.
Palm trees remove xylene and formaldehyde, so they’re good for a freshly painted or refurbished room, an office or living room!