Doum palm Hyphaene thebaica
Doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Arecaceae family, native to Nile valley, the Sahel and East Africa. It grows 8–17 m (26–56 ft) tall and 5–9 m (16–30 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about 0 °C (32 °F). Space plants about 7 m (23 ft) apart.
Plan Doum palm in your garden →
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Doum palm at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 8–17 m (26–56 ft) |
| Mature spread | 5–9 m (16–30 ft) |
| Spacing | 7 m (23 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 8 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 6.5–9 |
| Cold hardiness | About 0 °C (32 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 10) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 50 °C (122 °F) |
| Flowering | from about March for 6–9 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Yes: fruit pulp (gingerbread-flavoured) |
| Native to | Nile valley, the Sahel and East Africa |
| Common in gardens of | 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇪🇹 Ethiopia |
Is Doum palm toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Doum palm
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Questions about Doum palm
- How far apart should I plant Doum palm?
- About 7 m (23 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 5–9 m (16–30 ft).
- Does Doum palm need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 8 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Doum palm need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Doum palm?
- It tolerates about 0 °C (32 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 10.
- When does Doum palm flower?
- From about March for 6–9 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Doum palm poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Doum palm?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Doum palm. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Feedipedia: animal feed resources information system, INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO
Notes and assumptions
- One of the few palms whose trunk branches (forking in twos). Fruits were placed in pharaohs’ tombs.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Coconut palm Cocos nucifera
- Date palm Phoenix dactylifera
- Açaí palm Euterpe oleracea
- Mexican fan palm Washingtonia robusta
- African oil palm Elaeis guineensis
- Areca palm (golden cane palm) Dypsis lutescens
- Chilean wine palm Jubaea chilensis
- Joey palm Johannesteijsmannia altifrons