Phoenix sylvestris

🌿 Botanical Overview

• Scientific Name: Phoenix sylvestris
• Common Names: Wild Date Palm, Indian Date Palm, Sugar Date Palm
• Family: Arecaceae (Palm family)
• Native Range: Indian subcontinent — India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

🌼 Description

• Size: Medium-sized palm, usually 10–15 meters (33–49 ft) tall
• Leaves: Pinnate, bluish-green to gray-green, arching; leaf bases may have spines
• Trunk: Rough, with old leaf scars; often swollen at the base
• Flowers: Creamy-white, small, in large branched clusters
• Fruit: Oval, purplish to reddish when ripe; edible and sometimes used for jaggery (palm sugar)

🌍 Habitat and Growth

• Climate: Tropical and subtropical; tolerates high temperatures and some drought
• Soil: Grows well in sandy, loamy, or even saline soils with good drainage
• Light: Requires full sun
• Growth Rate: Moderate
• Hardiness: Fairly drought-resistant; tolerates brief cold spells