Chamaerops Humilis palm is very useful in garden design with its strikingly distinctive form

Chamaerops Humilis palm is very useful in garden design with its strikingly distinctive form

Evergreen Chamaerops Humilis is a hardy, flexible palm tree that won’t grow as tall as most palms. Being UK hardy and because of its neat size, the Chamaerops Humilis palm is very useful in garden design with its strikingly distinctive form, beautiful large fan-shaped leaves and an attractive dense growing habit. Chamaerops Humilis palms are excellent additions to UK Mediterranean or tropical themed gardens.

Mediterranean Effect in UK gardens - Chamaerops humilis var. humilis with Cordylines  to the rear and Tetrapanax to the front.

Mediterranean Effect in UK gardens: Chamaerops humilis var. humilis with Cordylines to the rear & Tetrapanax in front.

There are two varieties of Chamaerops Humilis, the main difference between them being the colour of the foliage. Chamaerops humilis var. humilis is a green-leaved palm and is in fact the only palm tree that is native to Europe, originating from the European Med and Iberian Peninsula.

Chamaerops humilis var. argentea (also known as Chamaerops humilis Cerifera) originates from the Atlas Mountains and has dramatic steely blue foliage. Chamaerops humilis argentea is more commonly known as the Blue Mediterranean fan palm.

Chamaerops humilis var. argentea (also Chamaerops humilis Cerifera)AKA Blue Mediterranean fan palm.

Chamaerops humilis var. argentea (also Chamaerops humilis Cerifera) AKA Blue Mediterranean fan palm.

The Chamaerops Humilis palm has a clumping habit. It can either be grown as a multi-trunk or you can keep them as a single trunk format.

Once it settles in, the Chamaerops Humilis palm is drought tolerant. These palms are also tolerant of partial shade, although they will be even more slow-growing under these conditions.

It will come as no surprise that the Chamaerops Humilis palm is a recipient of RHS Garden of Merit.

See also UK hardy tropical plants….
More UK hardy palm trees….