Palms For California

Pronunciation: cam-uh-DOOR-ee-uh ELL-uh-ganz

Common Name: Parlor Palm

Chamaedorea elegans is one of the most commonly grown palms in California, particularly indoors. It is a solitary palm, despite what many think when they purchase a small pot of a several dozen-stemmed palm from a garden outlet store- those are not clumping palms, but rather a bunch of tiny single stemmed palms in one pot. It is normally a smaller, dainty understory palm that does so well in low light that it performs ideally as an indoor palm as well, and is rather easy to keep happy and healthy both indoors and out.

Synonym: Neanthe bella; Chamaedorea humilis; Chamaedorea pulchella

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of about 8-10 feather leaves Height: 10' Trunk: single; 1/2" thick; closely ringed; green Crownshaft: pseudo-crownshaft consisting of multiple leaf bases that only 'mostly' surround the stem; forest green to light green Spread: 2.5'-3' Leaf Description: pinnate; 18"-24"; flat to very slightly 'V'd'; light green to a darker green indoors; leaflets ovoid-lancelote and about 5"-6" long; slightly leathery (outdoors) to a bit thinner and more papery indoors Petiole/Leaf bases: 8"-10" long; rounded; unarmed; light green; leaf bases form a pseudo-crownshaft Reproduction: dioecious Inflorescence: upright; from within the leaf crown often extending beyond the leaf crown; 2'-3' long; flowers bright yellow Fruit: 1/4"; spherical; black when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 27F Drought Tolerance: moderate (indoor palms seem particularly tolerant of not being watered for long periods) Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate Wind Tolerance: low Salt Tolerance: unknown Growth Rate: slow Soil Preference: adaptable, but prefers moist, draining sl acidic soils Light Requirement: full sun near coast to full shade Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: none Transplants?: fairly good Indoor?: excellent- one of the very best Availability: very common- available at many standard nurseries