The Pygmy Date Palm is a dwarf speciment with gorgeous pinnate lacy dark green leaves and gently curving trunks. In wild Phoenix Roebelenii is usually single-trunked, and in cultivation it is multi-trunked specimen which often planted with 2 more specimens. The trunks are short, rough, covered with the stubs of old leaf bases and sometimes with adventitious roots near the base. The attractive small tree grows slowly up to about 5-10 feet tall with a spread of 3-10 feet.

The leaves are dark green or bright green in color about 2-4 feet long with delicately dropping leaflets that have sharp spines at the edges. Because lower leaflets have sharp spines be careful when pruning, and it is best to keep children and pets away.

The Pygmy Date Palm bears short 1 foot clusters of insignificant flowers, opening from panicles which are hidden among the leaves. The palms are dioecious, female and male flowers on separate plants. Female flowers are pale yellowish white, and male flowers are cream. Female palms produce small, thin-fleshed green drupes. When fruits ripen they become purple to redish-black.

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