(Date Palm)

A tall palm with an upright feather-duster crown of long gray-green fronds, the date palm produces large pendent clusters of the sweet edible dates of renown. The most widely grown commercial date in the United States, 'Deglet Noor' produces semi-dry fruits on tall, relatively sparsely leaved plants.

An ancient foodsource integral to the cultures of the drier regions of Africa and Asia for 5000 years, the date palm apparently originated in northern Africa and the Middle East. It is found only...

(Senegal Date Palm)

With multiple narrow, arching trunks and lush, gracefully arching green fronds, Senegal date palm is a picturesque garden specimen. Native to the moist tropics of sub-Saharan Africa, it is an evergreen that grows as a thick, impenetrable clump.

The fronds can become quite long and gently arching, bearing many glossy, mid- and dark-green leaflets. The lower leaflets are modified into brutally nasty spines, called acanthophylls, which are never forgotten once a hand reaches into the base of the...

(Pygmy Date Palm)

One of the smallest of the date palms, this native of Laos bears an arching canopy of feathery, dark green fronds with sharp spines at the lower ends. The leaves appear in a crown atop a short, relatively slow-growing trunk. It sometimes suckers to produce multiple stems. Large, dense clusters of cream-colored flowers appear in the warm months succeeded by small, oval, black edible fruits.

Pygmy date palm likes warmth, humidity, well-drained soil, and protection from hot sun. Highly alkaline...

(India Date Palm, Silver Date Palm, Toddy Palm, Wild Date Palm)

With a fountain-like, silvery crown and slender, medium-tall trunk, this native of southern Pakistan and Northwest India resembles a scaled-down Canary Island date palm.

Upwards of 100 long, slender, feathery leaves arch from the apex of the solitary trunk, which is ribbed with the diamond-shaped scars of old leaves. Each frond has many narrowly lance-shaped leaflets of gray-green or gray-blue, arranged in several planes. The lowest leaflets are modified into sharp spines. The woody bases of...

(Amazing Red New Zealand Flax, New Zealand Flax)

The robust New Zealand flax 'Amazing Red' is an evergreen perennial to tender perennial with attractive strap-like leaves of red-brown with distinctive red edges. It forms compact, upright clumps of becoming foliage. In summer, tall leafless stems appear with panicles of dull red, tubular flowers, but these are only marginally ornamental.

New Zealand flax should be planted in well-drained, fertile soil. Though shade-tolerant, its leaf color is brightest when exposed to full or partial sun. This...

(New Zealand Flax, Wings of Gold New Zealand Flax)

This colorful New Zealand flax is a perennial to tender perennial with olive-green, lance-shaped leaves with creamy-yellow margins. It forms compact, upright clumps of attractive foliage. In summer, tall leafless stems appear with panicles of dull orange-red, tubular flowers, but these are only marginally ornamental.

New Zealand flax is semi-evergreen and may die to the ground after frost but will quickly regrow in the spring. It prefers fertile, well-drained soil, and though shade-tolerant, its...

(New Zealand Flax)

New Zealand flax is a bold foliage plant that is native to its namesake. It is a big tender perennial with long, broad, strap-shaped, leaves of dull green that form spectacularly huge upright basal clumps. In summer, this member of the Agave family puts forth very tall leafless stems with branched panicles of dull red, tubular flowers. These attract the tui bird in New Zealand and hummingbirds in the United States.

New Zealand Flax will grow almost anywhere if provided full sun and average to...

(New Zealand Flax)

Purple New Zealand flax is a bold perennial to tender perennial that is native to its namesake. When mature, its long, broad, strap-shaped, leaves of red-purple form spectacularly huge upright basal clumps. In summer, it puts forth very tall leafless stems with panicles of dull red, tubular flowers. New Zealand flax is semi-evergreen and may die to the ground after frost but will quickly regrow in spring. This deer and drought resistant plant grows best in fertile, well drained soil, and though shade-tolerant,...

(New Zealand Flax)

This big, bold New Zealand flax has lovely bronzy green foliage. Its broad, colorful, strappy, leaves form spectacularly huge upright basal clumps. In summer, this member of the Agave family puts forth very tall leafless stems with branched panicles of dull red, tubular flowers. These attract the tui bird in New Zealand and hummingbirds in the United States.

New Zealand Flax will grow almost anywhere if provided full sun and average to fertile soil with good drainage. Too much soil moisture...

(New Zealand Flax)

Jubilee New Zealand flax is a bold perennial that is native to its namesake. When mature, its long, narrow, strap-shaped, leaves form spectacularly huge basal clumps taht appear bright red. The leaves are actully dark green with red margins and red undersides. 'Jubilee' does not flower. New Zealand flax is semi-evergreen and may die to the ground after frost but will quickly regrow in spring. This deer and drought resistant plant is best grown in well-drained soils and full sun. In the landscape...