Pygmy Date Palms, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida

Pygmy date palm is the small, graceful feather palm that does well across SW Florida in sun or part shade, and at 6 to 12 ft it fits entries, courtyards and tight beds where bigger palms cannot. It grows slowly, needs regular palm fertilizer, and has sharp spines at the frond bases. We deliver and plant everything from 3 gallon palms to field-grown singles, doubles and triples.

Light:: Full sun to part shade
Water:: Moderate; steady moisture keeps fronds full, with some tolerance for short dry spells
Salt:: Moderate

Text Me a Planted Price Call (239) 799-5594

Pygmy 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.

Variety or form	Sizes	Good to know
Pygmy Date Palm	15 Gallon, Field Grown Single, Field Grown Double/Triple, Field Grown Double/Triple BIG, Field Grown Single 8'-10'	The widest range, from 15 gallon palms to field-grown singles, doubles and triples, including big field-grown singles at 8 to 10 ft for instant height.
Phoenix Roebelini (Pygmy Date Palm)	3 Gallon, 7 Gallon	The same palm listed under its Latin name, in smaller 3 and 7 gallon sizes for tight beds, containers and groupings where you want to start small.
Pygmy Date Palm (double)	Field Grown 6'-8'	Two trunks from one base, field grown at 6 to 8 ft, for a fuller look than a single.
Pygmy Date Palm (triple)	Field Grown 6'-9'	Three trunks from one base, field grown at 6 to 9 ft, the fullest classic cluster.
Pygmy Date Palm (multi-trunk)	Field Grown 6'-8'	A multi-trunk clump, field grown at 6 to 8 ft, for a natural, clustered look.

Pygmy Date Palm in SW Florida, at a glance

Mature size here: 6 to 12 ft tall and about 5 to 8 ft wide
Light: Full sun to part shade
Water: Moderate; steady moisture keeps fronds full, with some tolerance for short dry spells
Salt tolerance: Moderate
Cold tolerance: Fronds burn around 28 to 30°F; coastal Lee is usually fine, cover palms inland on frost nights
Growth rate: Slow
Spacing: 5 to 8 ft apart for a row or grouping
Florida native: No, native to Southeast Asia
Botanical name: Phoenix roebelenii

Where Pygmy Date Palm works in a SW Florida yard

Pygmy dates fit where a bigger palm will not: beside a front door, at the corner of the house, in a courtyard or at the back of a tropical bed. A single reads formal, doubles and triples look fuller and more natural, and a group of three at different heights looks established right away.

Set them back from walkways and play areas because of the spines. Bromeliads, ti plant and liriope make easy companions.

Entry and courtyard accents
Small-yard specimen palms
Tropical bed groupings
Foundation corner accents
Large container planting

How our crew plants it

Plant at the same depth the palm grew, with the top of the root ball level with the soil, in a hole twice as wide as the root ball. Space palms 5 to 8 ft apart and 4 ft or more from walkways. Backfill with native soil, mulch 2 inches deep and off the trunk, and brace taller field-grown palms through their first season.

Lee and Collier let you water new plantings extra, so keep the root ball moist while it roots, then taper.

Care after planting

Feed with an 8-2-12 palm fertilizer with magnesium and micronutrients in spring and again in October, because sandy soil here runs short of potassium and manganese.
Trim only dead, brown fronds, and wear thick gloves and eye protection because the spines are sharp.
Keep the root ball evenly moist while young, then water on your assigned days, since pygmy dates like steady moisture more than dry sand.
Mulch the root zone and keep string trimmers off the trunk.
Cover the crown on frost nights if you are inland.

What to watch for

Potassium and manganese shortages are the usual problem here, showing as yellow-orange spotting and brown tips on older fronds or stunted, frizzled new fronds.
Each frond base carries sharp, needle-like spines, so keep these palms off walkways and out of play areas.
Phoenix palms as a group are vulnerable to lethal bronzing and Ganoderma butt rot, so a palm that declines fast, with fronds dying from the bottom up or a conk at the trunk base, should be checked early.

Pygmy Date Palm questions we hear

How big do pygmy date palms get?+

Usually 6 to 12 ft tall and 5 to 8 ft wide, and they get there slowly. That compact size is why they fit entries, courtyards and small yards that cannot handle a queen or royal palm. A field-grown palm starts you at 6 to 10 ft right away, while 3 and 7 gallon palms take years to reach it.

How far apart should I plant pygmy date palms?+

Plant them 5 to 8 ft apart, center to center, for a row or grouping, and keep them at least 4 ft from walkways, doors and pool decks. Closer spacing gives a fuller cluster, while wider spacing lets each crown show. Odd-numbered groups of three or five look natural.

Why are my pygmy date palm fronds yellow or frizzled?+

Almost always a nutrient problem. Yellow-orange spotting and brown tips on older fronds point to potassium, while stunted, frizzled new fronds point to manganese. Our sandy soil runs short on both, so feed with an 8-2-12 palm fertilizer with magnesium and micronutrients, and skip it from June 1 to September 30.

Are pygmy date palms safe near pools and walkways?+

Use caution. The base of each frond has sharp spines that can puncture skin, so set pygmy dates back from walkways, pool decks and play areas, and wear thick gloves and eye protection when trimming. A bed beside a patio works better than a spot right at a deck edge.

What is the difference between a single, double and triple pygmy date palm?+

A single has one trunk and a tidy, formal look. Doubles and triples have two or three trunks from one base, so they read fuller and more natural at the same height. We also carry multi-trunk clumps and smaller container sizes, so you can match the look to the space.

How much does it cost to plant a pygmy date palm?+

Price depends on size, form (single, double, triple or multi-trunk) and how many palms, so we text a planted price. Send the address and what you have in mind, and we reply, usually within the hour during the day. Half down holds the palms and a delivery day.

Updated October 2026