Chamaerops Humilis – Learn, Grow & Where to Buy
Chamaerops is a genus of flowering palm trees with only one acknowledged species and a member of the Arecaceae family. They are commonly called European dwarf palm, European fan palm, or Mediterranean Dwarf palm.
Chamaerops Humilis Fan Palm is considered as one of the most northernmost naturally occurring palms in the world and native to Southwestern Europe. Thanks to its origin, it is one of the hardiest species of palm trees recognised today and hence useful for gardening and landscaping purposes.
Hardy Fan Palm Chamaerops Humilis
It is described as a bushy, evergreen, clump-forming palm shrub or small tree. It occurs as stemless, single-stemmed, or multi-stemmed but can be trained to have a single stem by removing the suckers that occur at the base of the main stem. It is a medium-sized plant that grows slowly to reach a height of 10 – 20 feet and a diameter of 6 – 8 feet, while the trunk’s diameter is only 8 to 10 inches.
At the crown of the stem sits fine-textured, fan-shaped palm fronds with varying colours from blueish-green to silver-green. Each palm is 2 feet long and holds 10 to 20 narrow, stiff leaflets. In spring, mature plants bear short panicles of bright yellow flowers that give way to tiny round fruits that may vary in colour from orange to brown.
Growth and Care of Chamaerops Humilis
Chamaerops Humilis is an easy palm to grow and care for. It is a low-maintenance plant that can survive in harsh conditions. It is one of the hardiest palms and is tolerant to frost, strong winds, heat, and drought.
How to Propagate Chamaerops Humilis
It is propagated by seeds and division of the suckers that develop at the bottom of the main stem.
Growing Conditions
Soil: It can tolerate poor soils, but is easily grown in moist, well-draining soil that is acidic to neutral.
Light: It grows best if the full sun and does not require any shade.
Water: Once established, it does not require much water but watering it regularly during summer will ensure you have a strong and healthy plant.
Pruning: It does not require any form of pruning. Simply remove suckers to avoid growing multiple stems.
Fertiliser: Feed your Chamaerops Humilis with a balance palm fertiliser every quarter.
Pests and Diseases: It is not prone to pests and diseases, but is a target to spider mites, mealybugs, and scale.
Temperature and Humidity: It is a plant that thrives well in heat and sunlight so summer temperatures are best at 25 degrees celsius but can tolerate much higher temperatures. It can tolerate low temperatures of -7 degrees celsius. To maintain humidity, mist the leaves in summer.
Further Reading:
- Grow Guide: Trachycarpus Wagnerianus
- Can you eat Jelly Fruit Palm?
- Grow Guide: Butia Capitata
- How fast do Jelly Palms grow?
- How quickly does Trachycarpus Palm grow?
Other popular palm trees you might be interested in are the hardy backbone Trachycarpus Fortunei Chusan Palm, Butia Capitata, Chamaerops Humilis, Chamaerops Humilis Cerifera, Chamaerops Humilis Vulcano, Howea Forsteriana (Kentia Palm), Livistona Rotundifolia, Phoenix canariensis, Washingtonia Robusta, Areca Dypsis and Yucca Palms.
Where to buy Chamaerops Humilis for sale in the UK?
Species And Varieties of Chamaerops Humilis
The only accepted species of Chamaerops is Chamaerops Humilis and is often synonymized with the genus. This species has 3 known varieties namely.
- Chamaerops Humilis var. Argentea: Also called Atlas mountain palm, it is native to Northwest Africa and has a glaucous coating on the leaves that hinder the presence of pests.
- Chamaerops humilis var. Epondraes: It is native to Northwest Africa and has a blueish or whitish coating on the leaves. (glaucous leaves)
- Chamaerops humilis var. Humilis: It is native to southwestern Europe and characterised by its green leaves.
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