Chamaedorea pinnatifrons

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Pronunciation: kam-uh-DOOR-ee-uh pin-AT-ih-fronz


Common Name: none

Chamaedorea pinnatifrons is another of the wider leaf, solitary Chamaedoreas that tend to all look alike. This one has particularly leather leaves, but still, not a fascinating landscape plant. This one has dozens of synonyms (only a few of the more common ones listed here). This is an uncommon palm in cultivation possibly due to its somewhat uninteresting appearance.

Synonyms: Chamaedorea gracilis; Chamaedorea concolor; Chamaedorea lanceolata; Chamaedorea lindeniana; Chamaedorea concinna; Chamaedorea micrantha; Chamaedorea bracteata; Chamaedorea membranacea; Chamaedorea minor; Chamaedorea pacaya

Appearance and Biology
  • Habit: solitary with a crown of 2-3 feather leaves
  • Height: 10'
  • Trunk: single; 1" thick; closely spaced, stepped rings; pale olive green
  • Crownshaft: 6"; pale green; same diameter as stem
  • Spread: 3'-4'
  • Leaf Description: pinnate; 2' long; large, leather, ovoid, curled leaflets; medium to deep green
  • Petiole/Leaf bases: 10"; unarmed; somewhat triangular in cross section
  • Reproduction: dioecious
  • Inflorescence: 2'; arching; orange; from below or among leaves
  • Fruit: ovoid to spherical; 1/2"; green to yellow to orange to red to black when ripe
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temp: 27F
  • Drought Tolerance: moderate
  • Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate
  • Cool Tolerance: good
  • Wind Tolerance: poor
  • Salt Tolerance: unknown
  • Growth Rate: slow
  • Soil Preference: adaptable
  • Light Requirement: shade to filtered sun
  • Human Hazards: none
  • Disease or Horticultural Problems: none
  • Transplants?: unknown
  • Indoor?: reportedly OK
  • Availability: rare


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