What is the difference between Phoenix Dactylifera Deglett Noor, Phoenix Dactylifera Medjool and Phoenix Dactylifera Zahidi?
There are many obscure sub varieties of Phoenix Dactylifera but these three are the only ones that are commonly available in the United States. Correctly stated, they are three different sub varieties of the species Dactylifera within the genus Phoenix. The fruit is very different in appearance and texture (the Deglett Noor is very small and hard, The Medjool very large and plump, the Zahidi smaller then the Medjool and rounder) and the canopies differ substantially in appearance. The Deglett Noor canopy is very wispy and somewhat thin in appearance while the Medjool produces a much thicker, more tropically arching canopy. The Zahidi canopy is quite dense and tends to be more silvery in color and more upright is appearance. The trunks appear pretty much the same though the Zahidi tends to be the thickest of the three.
