Look closely and you will see the "pineapple" just below the pineapple palm's canopy.
Pineapple palm, or Phoenix canariensis, originated in the Canary Islands and is commonly referred to as Canary Island date palm. The pineapple palm name comes from the pineapple-like appearance of the tree. This palm is enormous when fully grown and not for small areas. Growing from 40 to 60 feet tall with a massive crown over 20 feet wide and a hefty trunk typically 3 feet in diameter, pineapple palms grow best in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 9 through 11 in spacious landscapes. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Plant the pineapple palm in the spring in a site away from walkways or other areas people frequent because of the sharp leaves on young trees. Choose a location with plenty of space for growth, well-draining soil and full sunlight.
2. Dig a hole twice the width of the pineapple palm's container and about 1 inch shallower to allow for settling. Take the pineapple palm out of the container and place the pineapple palm into the hole. Leave a hose running slowly into the hole as you backfill the hole with the dirt you removed to remove air and compact the soil against the palm's root ball.
3. Use the excess soil to create a wall 2 to 3 inches high encompassing the planting hole to use as a watering basin for the first season to establish the pineapple palm. Fill the basin once a week, or as needed, to maintain moist (but not soggy) soil throughout the first season. Water the palm less often when it rains and during the winter, and then only water during extended dry periods the following seasons.
4. Add a 2-inch layer of mulch around the base of the palm. Keep the mulch 6 inches away from the pineapple palm's trunk and extend the circle out at least 3 feet. Replenish the mulch every spring as it decomposes. The mulch keeps weeds out of the area and naturally enriches the soil.
5. Apply a fertilizer specific for palm trees twice a year as directed in the spring and fall. The University of Florida suggests applying a foliar micro-nutrient spray along with a timed-released fertilizer every four months for the first season to establish a palm quickly.
6. Prune only dead fronds from the pineapple palm as needed to maintain its appearance. Do not remove any fronds growing upward, as it can affect the development of the tree.
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