The Canary Island Date palm is a huge and impressive plant found in many neighborhoods where it can reach heights up to sixty feet tall with fifteen-foot fronds. Sometimes referred to locally as the “pineapple palm”, will this palm fit into your landscape? As an example of “Plan Before You Plant”, keep in mind the different variables that make a plant suitable for your landscape including size, amount of after care, susceptibility to pests, maintenance, etc. As such, please consider the Canary Island Date palm.
As the Canary Island Date palm will eventually become a huge specimen plant, many residential sites won’t fit for the long run. However, it is a slow grower and will take many years to outgrow a small landscape. This palm is often used in large parking lot islands, within spacious lawn areas, HOA or development entrances, and other urban sites where it is very tolerant of drought once established. The Canary is also moderately tolerant to salt and does well on the inland side of coastal communities. This palm is a magnificent beauty at almost all stages with a diamond-shaped leaf scar pattern on the trunk, clusters of orange-yellow ornamental fruits, and as mentioned above, huge leaves up to fifteen feet long. Canary Island Date palms have wicked spines at the base of each frond – handle with care and wear appropriate protective gear.
Like every landscape plant, the Canary Island Date palm has it place and uses. Perhaps its biggest downfall may be its sensitivity to stress. Stress may be defined in this case by such factors as over-pruning, nutrient deficiencies, transplanting, over irrigation, and sometimes other unidentifiable causes. Regardless, stressed Canaries are open to attack by a plethora of opportunistic organisms. Palmetto weevils (large beetles) have a special ability to sniff out a weakened palm and chemically call-in others to feast on the tender palm “heart” or bud. While some landscapers apply a preventative systemic insecticide to protect newly planted Canaries (no guarantee) until they are established, others – already established in the landscape and weakened by some factor – can succumb rapidly and be overwhelmed in short order by this insect pest – even apparently healthy Canary Island Date palms can be attacked. Ganoderma butt rot – a fungus disease – is also a problem on occasion. This incurable fungus disease infects healthy and well as unhealthy Canary Island Date palms and there is no cure or prevention. There are other diseases that can show up including Fusarium wilt, trunk rot and Lethal Bronzing Disease.
Nutrient deficiencies can also manifest as discolored or stunted foliage – more stress. As Canary Island date palms are very susceptible to nutritional disorders, make sure to use a special palm fertilizer. We would recommend the slow-release granular fertilizer 8-2-12-4 (or 8-0-12-4) applied in November, February, and May as per label directions. In August use a 0-0-16-6, again as per label directions (or a 0-0-24 “Summer Blend” if you cannot find it). A well-fed palm (like a person on a healthy diet) is more apt to tolerate stress assaults.
Over pruning may also set these palms (and others) up for stress. Try to never remove a functional green frond if possible. Brown fronds can be removed as can flower heads and fruit clusters. If necessary, only remove the fronds that hang below the horizontal plain. Removing anything above this horizon is just asking for potential trouble. Make sure to sterilize pruning tools between palms. Warning – pruning Canary Island Date palms to make them look like a “pineapple” does a great disservice to them and may set them up for failure.
So, do all you can to keep your Canary Date healthy and happy. Preventative measures as outlined above are your best bet for maintaining this magnificent plant. For more information on all types of palms, or to ask a question, please visit https://www.facebook.com/CharlotteCountyExtension. You can also call the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpdesk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer. Ralph E. Mitchell is the Director/Horticulture Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County. He can be reached at 941-764-4344 or ralph.mitchell@charlottecountyfl.gov. Connect with us on social media. Like us on Facebook @CharlotteCountyExtension and follow us on Instagram @ifascharco.
Resources:
Broschat, T. (2018) Phoenix canariensis: Canary Island Date Palm. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Weissling, T. J. & Giblin-Davis, R. M. (2023) Palmetto Weevil, Rhynchophorus cruentatus Fabricius (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae). The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Elliott M. L. & Broschat T. (2026) Ganoderma Butt Rot of Palms. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Broschat T. (2021) Fertilization of Field-Grown and Landscape Palms in Florida. The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Gilman, E. F. & Watson, D. G. (1994) Phoenix canariensis, Canary Island Date Palm. University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
Williams, P. (2026) Palms Made Simple. PowerPoint – University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
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