Chamaerops Humilis Palm Tree

Chamaerops Humilis is a hardy fan palm producing multiple stems creating a bushy appearance. Stiff dark green fan shaped leaves. It is frost and cold tolerant and is an essential plant for palm-lovers. The yellow flowers produced in early summer are followed by green fruits which turn purple.

This fan palm is a hardy palm suitable for climate zones of the Southern UK. Not an overly large tropical, it fits very well into areas where space is at a premium.  Also known as Dwarf Fan Palm, it comes from the Family Arecacae and the Genus Chamaerops, known for its erect prolific stems bearing large leaves cut into linear sections.  Chamaerops bears insignificant flowers in panicles from the lower leaf axils of the plant, with small, date like fruits developing from there.

The Chamaerops Humilis variety is a more bushy evergreen palm which develops into a medium-sized plant in a shrub like shape. This variety is often either multi-stemmed or stemless. The fan shaped leaves exist in a mass of foliage, rounded in appearance. The leaves can be 40-45 centimetres in length.  This fan palm’s yellow flowers are small, emerging from short, rigid panicles and arise from mature plants only.  The green fruits transition to purple.

It will take Chamaerops Humilis between 20-50 years to reach its ultimate growth of between 1.5-2.5 in height and 1.0-1.5 ultimate spread.

Hardy to zone H4 in the UK, they prefer to be grown in a sheltered position which can provide fairly bright but indirect lighting. Suggested aspects are from the North or East facing positions. In areas other than H4, they can be grown under glass or as a houseplant.  In the indoor environment, during the growing season, they respond to moderate watering and balanced fertiliser applications. Over the winter, reduce rate of watering.

These are a low maintenance palm, with no pruning required. They prefer a slightly acidic pH, a well drained soil environment with some density. Loam is considered its favorite texture, or a well drained soil mix with some added organic matter.

Suggested uses include Architectural Patio themes, as a Container Plant, or in a Coastal Garden Courtyard type location.

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