Pygmy date palm is native to South-East-Asia. It thrives in the bright sun to partial shade. It needs adequate moisture for best look and adapts to most soils (use light, fast draining soils in containers). It has some drought tolerant but does well in moist well drained soil. This popular little palm is grown around the world indoors and out.

Pygmy date palm is single-stemmed, but is often grown in clumps of 2 4 closely spaced individuals which, when older, give the impression of a multi-stemmed palm. It grows to a height of about 12 ft. with a spread of 6 8 ft. It has a thick crown of narrow, arching, dark green fronds, which are much finer than those of the other types and have a thin layer of white scales. 

BARK: slender, often crooked trunk varies in diameter from 3–6 inches and is covered with distinctive peg-like leaf bases, becomes roughened as old leaf bases accumulate along its length.

LEAVES: feather-shaped (pinnate), bright green, droopy covered with 4-5 in leaflets that are modified into sharp 2–3-inch-long spines at the base of the petiole.

FLOWERS: Cream-colored male and female flowers are found on separate trees (dioecious) in the spring.

FRUIT: small elongated reddish-brown that turn black upon ripening, 10 -13 long fruit clusters hanging below the leaves.

An ornamental palm.

Can be grown as an indoor plant.