Phoenix canariensis considered naturalised (lives wild in a region where it is not indigenous). It has also spread in some areas of peninsular Spain, Portugal, Italy, Australia, and New Zealand. It is listed as invasive in California. In Auckland, New Zealand, the palm has itself become a host for the naturalised Australian strangler fig, "Ficus macrophylla". Phoenix canariensis Phoenix canariensis is a species of flowering plant in the palm family Arecaceae, native to the Canary Islands. It is a relative of "Phoenix dactylifera", the true date palm. It is the natural symbol of the Canary Islands, together with the canary "Serinus canaria".
Phoenix atlantica Islands, "P. dactylifera" L., "P. canariensis" Chabaud and "P. atlantica" A. Chev. While human activity has almost certainly introduced the former two species, the latter is endemic to the islands. Genetic isolation of Cape Verde Island "P. atlantica" was revealed by microsatellite markers and one chloroplast minisatellite marker to individuals of Phoenix from the Cape Verde Islands, "P. dactylifera", "P. canariensis" and "P. sylvestris", in order to assess the taxonomic position of "P. atlantica" within the genus. The DNA analysis by S. A. Henderson, N. Billotte and J.-C. Pintaud, demonstrated Genetic isolation of "Phoenix atlantica". "Phoenix atlantica" was first described