Phoenix roebelenii, plants group v.50 h.100-150 cm

A great evergreen tree for patios and conservatories, it has elegant arching leaves and, in hot summers, drooping bunches of creamy yellow flowers can appear. They can tolerate temperatures down to -6°C. Keep your phoenix well nourished with some organic fertiliser roughly once every three months when the temperature is over 5°C. While they may look like desert palms and are drought tolerant, your palm will need watering well in spring and summer, be sure not to let it dry out. You will see new leaves forming in the middle of the plant during summer, with the outer leaves turning brown. When this happens, chop them off at the base of the leaf with secateurs or loppers, leaving the stumps of leaves behind like this is what forms the pineapple-shaped trunk over 10-20 years.