Family: Arecaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Phoenix reclinata (Senegal date palm or wild date palm) is native to tropical and southern Africa, including Madagascar, the Comoros, and parts of the southwestern Arabian Peninsula. It is a clustering, multi-stemmed palm that often forms dense clumps over time. The species produces long, arching, feathery fronds with sharp spines along the leaf bases, and it can reach a stately, spreading form in suitable warm climates. Small, yellowish-orange dates are produced on female plants, and while they are not commonly cultivated for large-scale fruit production like the cultivated date palm, the species is valued in landscaping for its tropical appearance, drought tolerance once established, and ability to provide shade and structure in large gardens and parks.

Risks & Threats
Although Phoenix reclinata is currently not known to be naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands, it does possess traits that are cause for concern, and which could detrimentally impact tropical island ecosystems. Its ability to produce multiple suckering stems allows it to form dense thickets that can outcompete and displace native vegetation, particularly in disturbed or open habitats. The seeds can be spread by birds and other wildlife, increasing the potential for wider establishment beyond planted areas. In other tropical regions where it has been introduced, it has shown the capacity to persist and spread under favorable conditions. For these reasons, caution is warranted in its use, and choosing a low-risk or native alternative is strongly recommended when suitable options are available to help protect Hawaii’s unique ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m
  
• Naturalized
  
• Weedy
  
• Potential environmental weed
  
• Other Phoenix species have become invasive
  
• Spiny
  
• Possible mild allergen
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Forms dense thickets
  
• Produces bird and mammal-dispersed seeds
  
• Hybridizes with other Phoenix species
  
• Can spread vegetatively from suckers
  
• Seeds may also be dispersed by water in riparian habitats

Low Risk Traits:

• Palatable to animals
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Ornamental
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control