diff --git a/param/__init__.py b/param/__init__.py
index 99ccc861d..83d4370c1 100644
--- a/param/__init__.py
+++ b/param/__init__.py
@@ -1658,6 +1658,125 @@ def _validate(self, val):
             self._length_bounds_check(self.rows, len(val), 'Row')
 
 
+class _XrBase:
+    """
+    Provides mixin methods for DataArray and Dataset. Not useful on its own.
+    """
+    __slots__ = []
+
+    def _validate_dims_coords(self, val):
+        if self.dims is not None:
+            self._validate_property(self.dims, val.dims, 'dimensions')
+
+        if self.coords is not None:
+            self._validate_property(self.coords, list(val.coords),
+                                    'coordinates')
+            if isinstance(self.coords, dict):
+                self._coord_check(self.coords, val.coords)
+
+
+    def _validate_property(self, expected, property, name):
+        difference = set(expected) - set([str(el) for el in property])
+        if difference:
+            msg = ('Provided DataArray {name} {found} do not contain '
+                   'required {name} {expected}')
+            raise ValueError(msg.format(
+                found=list(property),
+                expected=sorted(expected),
+                name=name,
+            ))
+
+        if isinstance(expected, (list, tuple)):
+            if not set(expected) == set(property):
+                msg = ('Provided DataArray {name} {found} must '
+                       'exactly match {expected}')
+                raise ValueError(msg.format(
+                    found=list(property),
+                    expected=sorted(expected),
+                    name=name,
+                ))
+
+
+    def _coord_check(self, expected, coords):
+        if not all (coords[k].values.tolist() == list(v)
+                    for k, v in expected.items()):
+            msg = 'Provided DataArray does not have expected coordinates'
+            raise ValueError(msg)
+
+
+class DataArray(ClassSelector, _XrBase):
+    """
+    Parameter whose value is an xarray DataArray.
+
+    dims: If specified, may be a tuple, list, or set. If a set is used, the supplied
+    DataArray must contain the specified dims and if a list or tuple is used, the
+    supplied DataArray must contain exactly the same dimensions and no other
+    dimensions.
+
+    coords: If specified, may be a set, tuple, list, or dict. For a set, tuple, or
+    list, the same validation is conducted as for dims (see above). For a dict, keys
+    must be coordinate names present in the supplied DataArray, and values must
+    match the respective coordinates exactly.
+    """
+    __slots__ = ['dims', 'coords']
+
+    def __init__(self, default=None, dims=None, coords=None, **params):
+        from xarray import DataArray as xrArray
+        self.dims = dims
+        self.coords = coords
+        super(DataArray, self).__init__(xrArray, allow_None=True, default=default, **params)
+        self._validate(self.default)
+
+
+    def _validate(self, val):
+        if self.allow_None and val is None:
+            return
+
+        super(DataArray, self)._validate(val)
+        self._validate_dims_coords(val)
+
+
+class Dataset(ClassSelector, _XrBase):
+    """
+    Parameter whose value is an xarray Dataset.
+
+    dims: If specified, may be a tuple, list, or set. If a set is used, the supplied
+    Dataset must contain the specified dims and if a list or tuple is used, the
+    supplied Dataset must contain exactly the same dimensions and no other
+    dimensions.
+
+    coords: If specified, may be a set, tuple, list, or dict. For a set, tuple, or
+    list, the same validation is conducted as for dims (see above). For a dict, keys
+    must be coordinate names present in the supplied Dataset, and values must
+    match the respective coordinates exactly.
+
+    data_vars: Analogous to dims (see above).
+    """
+    __slots__ = ['dims', 'coords', 'data_vars']
+
+    def __init__(self, default=None, dims=None, coords=None, data_vars=None,
+                 **params):
+        from xarray import Dataset as xrDataset
+        self.dims = dims
+        self.coords = coords
+        self.data_vars = data_vars
+        super(Dataset, self).__init__(xrDataset, allow_None=True, default=default,
+                                      **params)
+        self._validate(self.default)
+
+
+    def _validate(self, val):
+        if self.allow_None and val is None:
+            return
+
+        super(Dataset, self)._validate(val)
+
+        self._validate_dims_coords(val)
+
+        if self.data_vars is not None:
+            self._validate_property(self.data_vars, val.data_vars,
+                                    'data variables')
+
 
 # For portable code:
 #   - specify paths in unix (rather than Windows) style;