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Canary Island Date Palm
Environmental Weed
Botanical name: Phoenix canariensis
Special note: Fronds have long sharp spines which can penetrate skin.
Description
Native to the Canary Islands and North Africa, the Canary Island Date Palm is a solitary palm with a strong trunk 10-40 metres tall. Its leaves are pinnate and are 4-6 metres long. The end leaflets are compact sharp spines and the fruit is oval and orange in colour.
Dispersal
Spread by birds and other animals.
Impact on Bushland
Seedlings often develop next to valuable trees, competing for water and nutirents and damaging the shape of the tree.
Control
Manual:
For a small palm: Cut back fronds with loppers or a saw close to the trunk. Cut off the top of the trunk just below where the topmost fronds come off the trunk. This should prevent further sprouting of fronds. You can cut off lower if the fronds later start to sprout. If you want to remove the whole trunk, use a sharp spade and cut around the base of the trunk to separate the roots. If cutting off the top is too difficult, you can cut and paint with undiluted glyphosate herbicide. Cut each frond as near to the trunk as possible, put a few drops of herbicide on the cut surface immediately after cutting. You need to do this to most of the fronds nearest the growing point - at least 5-6 fronds.
For a larger palm: To gain access to fronds nearer the growing point, cut off most of the fronds with loppers or saw close to the trunk on one side. Cut off about 10 fronds at the growing point and, as above, immediately paint some glyphosate herbicide on the stump of each cut frond. Cover the whole surface of the cut with herbicide.
NOTE: Do not cut off all fronds and then treat with herbicide. Remove large dead trunks with a chain saw. A ladder or cherry picker may be needed to gain access to taller trees. Reshoots after cutting and poisoning, and also suckers from its roots. Hand pull seedlings.
If removing from waterways or very steep land, please contact your local control authority for advice.
Chemical:
Please contact your local control authority for advice on chemical control.
Look-alike
Burrawangs often grow in similar situations; for example, next to remnant trees in road reserves or bushland. The Burrawang is an ancient type of plant dating from prehistoric times. They have separate male and female plants. They do not fl ower, but the female plant bears a large pineapple-like structure containing large seeds in a fl eshy orange coating. The male plant has a much smaller pollen producing structure. Maximum height is about 1.5m, with most fronds originating at ground level
or on a short trunk in very old specimens. All cycads (ie. Macrozamias) are protected under Pittwater Council’s Tree Preservation Order. If you need help with identifi cation, contact Pittwater Council on 9970 1111 or Pittwater Natural Heritage Association on 9918 3368.
Related Document
Canary Island Date Palm brochure (PDF)