Males produce bracts or leaves surrounding flower clusters. Females produce inedible dates on long broomlike structures. Dates appear orange, then darken to brown before they drop. Can be grown from seed, but very slow. As tree, needs staking, thinning of surplus branches to prevent tangled, top-heavy growth.
Ungroomed trees have messy fruit drop with many seedlings.
Dry rot makes trunks and frond stubs unsightly.