Phoenix sylvestris

In its current, strict sense, Phoenix sylvestris is a short, spiny date palm of south-western India and Sri Lanka, often stemless for years and sometimes clumping, that rarely exceeds about 5 m and bears small, sweet, red to purple-black dates. Growers know it mainly as Phoenix pusilla, the Ceylon date palm.

A 2025 revision applied the name to this palm and described the tall wild date or silver date palm of northern India, long sold as Phoenix sylvestris, as the new species Phoenix roxburghii.

At a glance

• Native range: India and Sri Lanka
• Mature size: 3.5–5.5 m
• Light: full sun
• Water: very drought tolerant once established
• Cold hardiness: light frost only, about −2 °C
• Indoors / outdoors: outdoors in tropical and warm subtropical gardens

Care

A sun-loving, undemanding palm: give it full sun and a well-drained position. It adapts to most soils, tolerates salt and coastal exposure, and is one of the more cold-sensitive date palms.

Why Palmpedia: Raised in our Almeirim greenhouse in Portugal and supplied in 15 L to 35 L pots.