Pygmy Date Palm Drying Out?

[mxcolin 28]

I've had this in the ground for 2 years without issue. Nothing has really changed in growing conditions, although I did remove a sucker recently. The fronds feel very papery if that makes sense and some of the new growth looks brown. The ground isn't super dry, we are at the end of a long hot summer so it could be that. Fertilizer maybe? Hadn't fertilized in about 4 months.

[PalmatierMeg 5,468]

I think you have some kind of Phoenix hybrid. It doesn't look like pure roebelinii to me. Pygmy dates are solitary.

[mxcolin 28]

22 minutes ago, PalmatierMeg said:

I think you have some kind of Phoenix hybrid. It doesn't look like pure roebelinii to me. Pygmy dates are solitary.

Not sure, all those sold around here are multi-trunk.

[JLM 402]

Are the newer fronds opening up all the way?

[Jim in Los Altos 2,312]

You’re Phoenix roebelenii look very healthy. Those new leaves are exactly how they should look. If you had a particularly hot heat wave in the recent past, a bit of leaf burn is possible. These palms like lots of water as you probably know. It normally takes these palms about two years to settle in California particularly if they come from Florida. 

[Jim in Los Altos 2,312]

9 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

I think you have some kind of Phoenix hybrid. It doesn't look like pure roebelinii to me. Pygmy dates are solitary.

Meg, most are sold here in CA with several trunks since growers plant them as multiples but there are cases of pure roebelenii clumping naturally too. 

Finding singles in one pot is rare here. 

[WaianaeCrider 633]

9 hours ago, mxcolin said:

Not sure, all those sold around here are multi-trunk.

I have about 10 in the ground.  No suckers.  Been in the ground over 10 years each.

 

[Gonzer 1,600]

Jim's answer is all you need to know.