Bottom line is that you're nearly two zones out of the minimum zone requirements (9a/ 20.8*F) for an unprotected CIDP. http://www.hardypalmtrees.com/canary_island_date_palm.htm Most successful zone pushers stick with palms that are rated a half to one zone above theirs. If you research many cold hardy palms, they often say something like "hardy to zone 8a, or 7b with good seating" (a sheltered microclimate). In the case of the CIDP in your area, you would need both good seating and annual winter protection. A twelve foot tree might be very difficult to protect, annually and if you are successful, it will only get more difficult. I honestly would start off with nothing bigger than a 15 gal palm for ease. But I say, go for it, if you have the passion and resources to do it!

Hi hoovb, Thank you for responding. I suppose it has but the tree is too tall for me to see clearly. My Butia which is not as tall is showing the same symptoms. The dates came and fell in what seemed to be more than usual, then one night I actually dreamed about the spear falling off. I thought it was from me reading so much about dying palms. Sure enough I went outside that morning and saw what looked like a large long yellow tail in the center of my Butia...a few days later it sectioned into parts and turned brown and fell to the ground. Now this happened on my largest palm with just the dates falling in just really really large amounts so much so that we had be scoop them out of the pool for like a week. It was about a month later that all the fronds turned brown. The Butia is so far still green.

Looks like too much heat and not enough water. If it had been grown in less then full sun,then its also adapting to that with old fronds burning. Water more,and see if the new flush of fronds is greener. If so-home free! Also,If your in a Sunset desert zone or a hot inland soucal valley-it will always need some shade to look best.

Is that snow on the ground! In any case, your palm is being stunted by the Winter cold. The pygmy date is one of the more tropical species of Phoenix (date) palms--other species (P. canariensis for example) show greater cold tolerance. Your palm would soon grow out of this stunted growth and revert to a normal growth rate/pattern BUT as you say, it will go through another setback with the coming winter. Frankly, I would grow it as a containerized palm and just Winter protect it somewhere (house or garage). The condition you described happened last year to my pygmy date. It suffered two Winters ago as a containerized palm in the garage. It showed stunted, slow abnormal growth last Summer. This Spring it grew out of it and grew like crazy and a few weeks ago it flowered. In its place I would suggest you plant a cold hardier palm. Here are some suggestions: Trachycarpus (Windmill palms), Sabal louisiana, Butia capitata (Pindo palm), Rhaphidophyllum (Needle palms), or Chamaerops humilis (Mediterranean fan).