Most palm trees are grown as landscape ornamentals, and each has a common name. The date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera) is cultivated for its luscious date fruit and is typically called “the date.” Date palm harvesting takes place from September to December, often hand-picked since all dates on a tree may not mature at the same time. Ideally, dates are picked at their peak level of sugar content and flavor. The Date Palm Tree The date palm tree is a tall, erect palm, growing to 120 ft (36.5 m.). From the ground up, the trunk is covered in overlapping woody leaf bases. The palm leaves are feather-like and up to 20 feet (6 m.) long. Small fragrant flowers grow in on a branched spadix divided into 25 to 150 strands, with one inflorescence containing 6,000 to 10,000 flowers. These develop into fruit. The dates ripen into oblong, dark-brown fruit with […]
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