Dates grow in clusters below the fronds on a date palm tree. A single cluster can hold 600 to 1,700 dates. Date palms can grow as tall as 100 feet and stay in production for over 60 years. The fronds of the date palm are featherlike and 10 to 20 feet long.

Dates are the fruit of the date palm. They are dark reddish brown, oval, and about 1 1/2 inches long. Date skin is wrinkled and coated with a sticky, waxy film.