Difference in root vigour between Phoenix dactylifera and Theophrastii

[Mishaq]

Below are photos of 4 leaf seedlings of Ph. Dactylifera (left) and Theophrastii (right).

 

theophrastii appears to be a slower grower however this may be because of the fact that much of its vigour is focused to the roots in comparison to dactylifera. The theophrastii seedlings are about 6 months older than the dactylifera. This has been the case in all the seedlings I have repotted

Both seedlings were raised in identical conditions in an unheated greenhouse in the UK and survived temperatures to -6°C with a few casualties from the dactylifera batch but zero from theophrastii.

[kinzyjr]

Once they get rolling, a Phoenix theophrasti is typically a little quicker than Phoenix dactylifera here and in TX.  Which variety of dactylifera were you growing?

[Phoenikakias]

My experience is exactly the opposite!

[gyuseppe]

here they behave the same way, in the botanical garden of Naples, there are many phoenix species, many are hybrids

[Phoenikakias]

2 hours ago, gyuseppe said:

here they behave the same way, in the botanical garden of Naples, there are many phoenix species, many are hybrids

Giuseppe, here I have in a constant manner the opposite experience. I have sowed several times in a community pot seeds from both theophrasti, dactylifera and hybrids between the two, and always during separation and individual potting up of the seedlings, theophasti had the less developed root system, this is an undisputable observation. About the reasons? I am not sure anymore, after this post...

[Mishaq]

9 hours ago, kinzyjr said:

Once they get rolling, a Phoenix theophrasti is typically a little quicker than Phoenix dactylifera here and in TX.  Which variety of dactylifera were you growing?

Here I am growing seeds of Algerian deglet noor. My observations would certainly vary between the eastern and western varieties of dactylifera, the phenotype of the two tribes are undeniably different even at the seedling stage. I see much more vigour from var. medjool than any other variety with longer strap leaves too.

 

my experience is that theophrastii is slightly slower to produce new leaves but seems to have deeper roots… it is marginally hardier than dactylifera.

 

do you experience an additional hardiness of plants raised from the seedling stage? Very few seedlings died over winter while I had casualties of much larger phoenix palms which were not raised by me in my conditions.

[gyuseppe]

1 hour ago, Phoenikakias said:

Giuseppe, here I have in a constant manner the opposite experience. I have sowed several times in a community pot seeds from both theophrasti, dactylifera and hybrids between the two, and always during separation and individual potting up of the seedlings, theophasti had the less developed root system, this is an undisputable observation. About the reasons? I am not sure anymore, after this post...

Here (at the botanical garden of Naples) theophrasti, dactylifera and other species and hybrids, they all look beautiful and are all healthy and vigorous plants, here we have excellent soil, the Romans called it Campania Felix

[Phoenikakias]

6 minutes ago, gyuseppe said:

Here (at the botanical garden of Naples) theophrasti, dactylifera and other species and hybrids, they all look beautiful and are all healthy and vigorous plants, here we have excellent soil, the Romans called it Campania Felix

Is it enriched with volcanic cinder?

[gyuseppe]

I really think so

[Phoenikakias]

6 minutes ago, gyuseppe said:

I really think so

Also tomatoes should be very tasty, when grown in this kind of soil!

[kinzyjr]

13 hours ago, Mishaq said:

Here I am growing seeds of Algerian deglet noor. My observations would certainly vary between the eastern and western varieties of dactylifera, the phenotype of the two tribes are undeniably different even at the seedling stage. I see much more vigour from var. medjool than any other variety with longer strap leaves too.

 

my experience is that theophrastii is slightly slower to produce new leaves but seems to have deeper roots… it is marginally hardier than dactylifera.

 

do you experience an additional hardiness of plants raised from the seedling stage? Very few seedlings died over winter while I had casualties of much larger phoenix palms which were not raised by me in my conditions.

In my own case, all of my Phoenix dactylifera are from seeds of the 'Medjool' variety.  It would be difficult to judge cold tolerance for most Phoenix here.  Our record low is 20F, which isn't typically fatal for these Phoenix species.

[Hu Palmeras]

El 20/7/2025 a las 14:00, Mishaq dijo:

A continuación se muestran fotografías de plántulas de 4 hojas de Ph. Dactylifera (izquierda) y Theophrastii (derecha).

 

La theophrastii parece tener un crecimiento más lento, aunque esto podría deberse a que gran parte de su vigor se concentra en las raíces, a diferencia de la dactylifera. Las plántulas de theophrastii son unos 6 meses mayores que las de la dactylifera. Esto ha ocurrido con todas las plántulas que he trasplantado.

Ambas plántulas fueron criadas en condiciones idénticas en un invernadero sin calefacción en el Reino Unido y sobrevivieron a temperaturas de -6 °C con algunas bajas en el lote de dactylifera pero ninguna en el de theophrastii.

Bonita plántula, amigo. Aquí en Chile tengo palmeras datileras Medjool. Son una maravilla. Son palmeras datileras del norte de África, incluyendo la variedad Medjool. Un estudio reveló que su composición genética es de Oriente Medio. Provienen de una palmera madre de Oriente Medio, y el padre es Teoprasti, una palmera nativa del Mediterráneo. ¡Increíble, amigo!