Canary Island Date Palms, Field Grown and Planted in SW Florida
Big, slow and tough, the Canary Island date palm is a specimen palm that handles Southwest Florida's heat, sandy soil and salt air, and it is best for large yards and entries where it has room to spread. The trunk is thick and the crown is wide and full. We deliver and plant field-grown trees, set at the right depth by our crew.
- Light:
- Full sun
- Water:
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established, but needs steady water the first year
- Salt:
- Moderate to high; handles coastal spray
Canary Island Date Palm sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Canary Island Date Palm | Field Grown |
Canary Island Date Palm in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 40 to 60 ft tall, trunk 2 to 3 ft thick, crown 20 to 30 ft wide
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established, but needs steady water the first year
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate to high; handles coastal spray
- Cold tolerance
- Hardy to about 20°F; cold is not a concern in SW Florida
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Spacing
- 20 to 30 ft apart in a row, and at least 15 to 20 ft from buildings and pools
- Florida native
- No
- Botanical name
- Phoenix canariensis
Where Canary Island Date Palm works in a SW Florida yard
A Canary Island date palm needs room, so plan it as a focal point rather than a filler. The trunk is broad and the crown spreads 20 to 30 ft, which suits large lawns, circle drives and entry courts, as a single specimen or as a pair or row.
Keep it at least 15 to 20 ft from the house, lanai and pool, and away from walkways, because each frond base carries long, sharp spines. Underplant with low plants such as coontie, liriope or mondo grass.
- Estate entries and drives
- Large-lawn specimens
- Formal palm rows
- Circle drive centerpieces
- Coastal landscapes
How our crew plants it
A field-grown palm arrives with a heavy root ball, so the hole is dug roughly twice the width of the ball and the ball is set at the height it grew, with the top at or just above grade. Backfill with native soil, water in until the ball is soaked, and brace the trunk with padded 2x4s until roots grip, usually several months.
Water heavily in the first months, since Lee and Collier let new plantings go past the normal watering schedule, then taper off.
Care after planting
- Feed three to four times a year with a palm fertilizer such as 8-2-12 with magnesium and micronutrients, because Canary palms run short of potassium and magnesium, which shows as yellow, frizzled older fronds.
- During the Lee County, Naples and Marco Island summer ban (June 1 to September 30), use a micronutrient blend with no nitrogen or phosphorus.
- Cut only fully brown fronds, flower stalks and fruit clusters, and never trim green fronds or carve a pineapple cut, which starves the palm and draws palmetto weevils.
- Sterilize pruning saws with bleach or alcohol between palms to avoid spreading Fusarium wilt.
- Water deeply through the first year; after that it tolerates drought but grows best with steady dry-season water.
What to watch for
- Lethal bronzing is a phytoplasma disease that hits Canary palms: fruit drops early, flower stalks blacken and fronds yellow then brown from the bottom up, so call a certified arborist about preventive injections.
- Fusarium wilt kills Canary palms and spreads on dirty pruning tools; leaflets on one side of a frond die first, then the whole frond.
- Ganoderma butt rot has no cure, and shelf-like conks at the trunk base mean it is advanced.
Canary Island Date Palm questions we hear
How fast does a Canary Island date palm grow?+
Slowly. UF/IFAS lists growth as slow, with about 50 new fronds a year in South Florida, and the trunk takes decades to reach full height. That slow pace is why most people buy a field-grown specimen instead of starting small.
How far from the house or pool should I plant a Canary Island date palm?+
Plan on at least 15 to 20 ft from the house, lanai, pool and walkways. The crown spreads 20 to 30 ft, fronds run about 15 ft long and heavy, and the frond bases carry long, sharp spines. Keep it clear of power lines too.
Is a Canary Island date palm salt tolerant?+
Yes, moderately to highly. It handles salt spray and sandy, well-drained coastal soil, which makes it workable on many canal and coastal lots. It does not like salty standing water or poorly drained ground, and it only works where there is space for the crown.
Do Canary Island date palms get lethal bronzing in Florida?+
Yes, it is one of the susceptible palms. Early signs are premature fruit drop and blackened flower stalks, then fronds browning from the bottom up. A certified arborist can discuss preventive trunk injections for a valuable palm, and a confirmed, declining palm is usually removed.
How do I prune a Canary Island date palm?+
Cut only fully brown fronds, plus dead flower stalks and fruit clusters. Never cut green fronds or carve the crown into a pineapple shape, which weakens the palm and attracts palmetto weevils. Sterilize the saw before and after each palm so you do not spread Fusarium wilt.
How much does it cost to plant a Canary Island date palm?+
Price depends on trunk height, root ball size, how many palms you want and where they have to go on the lot. Text us the address and what you have in mind, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day. Half down holds the palm and a delivery day.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Canary Island Date Palm
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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