Plant Profile

Hyphaena thebaica (Gingerbread palm, African Doum Palm)

Hyphaene thebaica is a deciduous palm 10-17 m high, Trunk is Y-shaped clearly showing the scars of the fallen leaves. Bark dark grey. A very distinctive fan palm which is one of the few palms which branches.Leaves 120 x 180 cm, fan shaped, petiole more than 1 m long, sheathing at the base with numerous upwardly curving hooks. Male and female flowers on separate trees. The inflorescence is similar in both sexes, up to 1.2 m long, The female palm produces woody fruits that persist on the tree for a long time. Hyphaene is derived from the Greek word ‘hyphaino’ referring to the fibers from the leaves, which are used for weaving. In Egypt, the doum palm has been cultivated since ancient times and has long been considered a sacred tree, symbolizing masculine strength. It was also planted in the belief that it protected and supplied people with shade, water and food after death. Sunny, very well drained position. Can tolerate temperate clmates, but prefers it hot. Very drought tolerant.

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  • By Hatem Moushir (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By David Haberlah [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By AntanO (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Hatem Moushir (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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  • By Hatem Moushir (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By David Haberlah [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By AntanO (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Hatem Moushir (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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  • By Hatem Moushir (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By David Haberlah [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By AntanO (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Hatem Moushir (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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