Doum Palm. Gingerbread palm. (Hyphaene thebaica)

Family: Arecaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Hyphaene thebaica is an evergreen Shrub growing to 10 m (32ft) by 8 m (26ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Nuts/Seeds

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

flavour of gingerbread. — The orange fruit has a flavour of gingerbread.; It is eaten raw and is also made into sweetmeats, molasses and cakes.; The ovoid fruit is about 8cm long.; The unripe seed is eaten raw.

Habitat & North American Range

Open grasslands and desert. (Zone 10)