More commonly known as the Date Palm, this medium sized palm grows 15-25 metres tall and is often distinguishable for its overlapping woody leaf base.
This palm is popular in Asian and African countries for it's sweet fruit. The original genus Phoenix is thought to have originated in the North African deserts, and they nearly always possess an impressively thick and colourful crown, spanning around 6 metres. The leaves are also long, 3-5 metres, each with 150 or so leaflets.
This palm requires warm climates and can survive in sand, clay and other heavy soils. The date palm can only survive with full sunshine, and will only bear fruit after long, hot growing seasons.
In Thailand it is known as the palm nam tong.
