Hardy to 20 F. Slow to develop new head of foliage after hard frost damage. Gives tropical and desert effect. Grows slowly until it forms trunk, then speeds up a little.
Young plants do well in pots for many years, looking something like pineapples.
To 60' tall with 50-ft. Composed of a great many gracefully arching dark-green fronds, orange at base. Trunks patterned with bases of old leafstalks. Males produce bracts or leaves surrounding flower clusters. Females produce inedible dates on long broomlike structures.