Phoenix therofrastii (Cretan Date Palm)

An ancient and very rare suckering palm, now growing on only a few sites in southern Greece, Crete and the Turkish coast. It has long, spiky-ended, pinnate leaves on clustered slender stems growing to 15m. It bears thin fleshed edible fruit and is thought to be a parent of many of the culinary palms.

Position: As it comes from the eastern Mediterranean, this palm will grow best in full sun on well-drained soil in a sheltered position. A mature specimen is reputed to be quite cold and salt hardy. Time will tell in the UK.

Propagated 'By offsets and seeds'

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.