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Canary Island Date Palms and Medjool Date Palms in SE

16 years ago

Hello all. I live in extreme Southeast Alabama, about 18 miles north of the Florida state line. This summer I sat out one Canary Island Date Palm and two Medjool Date Palms in the ground here. As a general rule, in this area one does NOT see date palms at all. I have seen two CIDPs - about twelve feet tall each - growing outside in Daleville, AL. Besides that, I haven't seem them north of Destin, FL.

My friend had a pygmy date palm in his yard in Enterprise, AL until recently. It lived for a couple of years, but it got killed by the cold weather last winter.

I do understand that the CIDP and Medjools are more cold hardy, though. I know these are growing along the coast in GA and SC. But does anyone know of these growing as far inland as here?

Am I crazy for putting them in the ground here?

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Comments (3)

lakers1982
16 years ago
While I am no expert i believe the CIDP Will be good down to 10F Provided it is a short cold snap.I am not sure about the Date Palm's hardiness but at the same time I say give it a try.I am in Iowa zone 5 with 2 Windmill Palm's so I am just about as crazy, if not crazier than you.
Good luck
unautre
16 years ago
CIDP should be no problem. We have many mature ones here in San Antonio, decades old, so they survive high teens, at least through a few hours in the mornings, reliably.

Date palms are not so hardy, but are supposed to be good for 18F.
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User
16 years ago
I think of the two, CIDP will proove to be better suited to your conditions. The problem with Medjool Dates (palms native to North Africa) is the fact that they are not crazy about very humid, wet climates. I don't think they appreciate either hot & wet or cold & wet. I believe pympy dates are more tropical in origin so prefer the more humid conditions (but are probably not cold hardy enough for your area).

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