Native to the tropical and sub tropical deserts of the Middle East: this palm has been cultivated for about 6,000 years. It is now not known in the wild. It is an erect palm growing to 36 m.
It requires full sun, and warm climates where the temperature rarely falls below - 6°C. It is hardy to 30 degrees latitude, but requires a sheltered site. Rainfall is typically 250 - 800 mm.
The Arabs claim that it must have its feet in the water and its head in the fire of heaven. It usually grows on saline soils near brackish water. For date production, a rain free fruiting period is needed. Planting densities range from 100 - 500 per hectare depending on soil type and water availability. The plant does well in sand, loam and clay provided that drainage and aeration are good. It is tolerant of very alkaline soils and fairly high salt levels although the latter can affect growth and fruit production.
The fruit is borne on large clusters. Dates are eaten out of hand fresh and dried. They are used in cakes, biscuits, breads, pastes, syrups, jellies, ice cream and alcohol. In the Saharah desert they are fed to camels, horses and dogs. The terminal bud is eaten but this kills the palm. The seeds are dried and ground finely and mixed with flour to make bread. The seed is also soaked in water and fed to livestock and is a good chicken forage. Palms can be tapped (no more than two or three times) for sugar and wine production.
Nutritional composition of the dried date per 100 grams of edible portion is: Water - 22.5%, Energy - 274 calories, Carbohydrate - 72.9 g, Fat - 0.5 g, Protein - 2.2 g, Ash - 1.9 g, Calcium -59 mg, Potassium - 648 mg, Sodium - 1 mg, Magnesium - 58 mg, Iron - 3.0 mg, Phosphorous -63 mg, Chlorine - 390 mg, Sulphur - 120 mg, Iodine - 0.001 mg, Vitamin A - 50 I.U., Thiamin - 0.09 mg, Riboflavin - 0.10 mg, Niacin - 2.2 mg, Ascorbic acid - 2 mgs and the digestion time is 3.5 hours.
The seed is burned to make charcoal for silver smiths. The leaves are used to make thatch huts, mats, baskets, screens, packing crates and fans. The stripped fruit clusters are used as brooms. The trunks are used for posts and rafters in most constructions. All left over wood is used as firewood.
The fruit is used as a detersive and astringent for intestinal troubles. An infusion is used to treat sore throat, colds, bronchial catarrh. It is taken to relieve cystisis, gonorrhea, oedema, liver and abdominal troubles. It is mixed with beer to counter alcoholic intoxication. The gum which exudes from wounds in the trunk is used to treat genito - urinary ailments and diarrhoea. It is demulcent and diuretic. The roots are used for toothache.
Although date palms grow readily from seed, fruiting can take ten years and the fruit quality is variable. Also half of the raised seedlings are likely to be male. Where suckers of known plants are available, they are usually preferred. Suckers weigh about 45 kg when they are trans-planted. Where suckers are not available, large numbers of seedlings should be planted and suckers propagated from the best specimens. Males will be required for pollination.