Dioecious palm, reaching 10–20 m in height, characterized by trunk branching (2–3 stems), leaves palmate, approximately 1.5 m long; fruits subglobose, brown, approximately 6 cm in diameter; inner pulp white, firm, edible.
Scintefic Name
Hyphaene thebaica (L.) Mart
Family
Arecaceae
Native Range
Native to tropical Africa, found along the eastern and western coasts of the Red Sea, and in Palestine.
Distribution in Saudi Arabia
Extends along the Red Sea coastal belt, from Tabuk in the north to Jazan in the south.
Importance
The species has high economic value its leaves are used in handicrafts, trunks in construction and beekeeping, and fruits as a food source during scarcity. It also thrives in saline environments due to its salt tolerance.
Grows in coastal areas, (salt pans), and at the confluence of seasonal wadis with the Red Sea.
None
Thrive in well-drained sandy, loamy, clay, saline, or nutrient-poor soils
Prefer soil pH between 6.5 and 7.5
Elevation range
0–1,400 meters above sea level
Propagation methods
Seeds, offshoots.
Planting season
October
Irrigation
Low
Fertilization
Minimal
Care
Requires occasional pruning and removal of dry leaves.
Toxicity Risks
Not specified
Pests and diseases
Red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), leaf blight and leaf tip wilt
Flowering period
March
Growth rate
Slow
Drought tolerance
High
Drenching
Moderate
Salinity tolerance
10,000–14,000 ppm
Temperature range
30–45°C
