Silver Date Palm, Wild Date Palm, Toddy Palm, Sugar Date Palm

Phoenix sylvestris (L.) Roxb.

FEE-nix sill-VEST-tris

Arecaceae

Explanation of name: For the generic name see P. canariensis. Sylvestris means “of the forest.”

Natural range: India, Pakistan. Scrublands, monsoonal plains (RI2)

Recognition: This species is somewhat intermediate between Canary Island Date Palm (P. canariensis) and Date Palm (P. dactylifera). From the former it differs by faster growth and by having a thinner trunk (1’-1.5’ vs. up to 4’), blue-green (vs. green) leaves, leaf scars broader than high, and elongate (vs. round) stones in the fruits. Silver Date Palm differs from P. dactylifera by being non-suckering, and by having a fuller canopy (100 leaves, MEE, RI2) with the leaves less upright (many leaves tilted downward). Both have fruits with elongate pits, but the fruits in Silver Palm are usually shorter (1.25” vs. 1”-3” BA2). Two-three months for germination (ELL).

Landscape uses: Faster-growing than the other large Phoenix species.

Additional notes: This species is the source of sugar used in making the alcoholic beverage toddy. As with other Date Palms, there are separate male and female individuals.