Palms For California

Pronunciation: CAM-er-ropps HEW-mill-iss

Common Name: Mediterranean Fan Palm

Chamaerops humilis may be one of the most universally used landscape palms in the non-tropical climates about the world. It is very durable and ornamental species, excellent for hot desert climates, windy climates, cold ones (well below freezing) and those with lousy soils. It also tends to move well, making planting mature specimens a relatively low risk operation. It is a somewhat variable suckering fan palm with many different leaf cultivars as well a non-suckering form. Though it struggles a bit in deep shade and does not tend to look very robust in hot, humid climates, it is an excellent choice as a specimen landscape palm for most gardens in California. This palm is the most northerly naturally occurring palm in the world.

Appearance and Biology Habit: multiple (rarely single) trunk with crowns of about 15- 50 leaves Height: 20' Trunk: multiple (or rarely singe); 12" thick; covered with leaf bases and dense, thick layer of fiber; taller palms often have lowest 1/4 of trunk naturally clean Crownshaft: none Spread: 6'-20'+ Leaf Description: palmate; stiff to whispy; leaves divided half their length, to nearly 90% in some forms (some rare forms nearly undivided); most forms have waxy coating on underside, but some do not; leaves grey-green to deep green (light green forms exist, as do 'blue' forms and variegated forms); 2'-3' long Petiole/Leaf bases: petioles stiff to thin and arching; all heavily armed with very sharp brown teeth; some forms have teeth nearly 1/2 long while others have teeth about half that length; unsplit leaf bases, closely spaced, usually retained on trunk for many years Reproduction: dioecious Inflorescence: 6" long, densely branched and in a tight clump; flowers bright yellow to creamy Fruit: ovoid; 1/2"-3/4" long; yellow to brown when ripe Seed:

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 6F Drought Tolerance: excellent Dry Heat Tolerance: excellent Wind Tolerance: excellent Salt Tolerance: moderate (some forms may be good) Growth Rate: moderate Soil Preference: very widely adaptable Light Requirement: full sun Human Hazards: very sharp petiolar teeth- careful when pruning Disease or Horticultural Problems: bud rot common if watered from above (with tap water) Transplants?: fairly good at tolerating transplanting Indoor?: poor choice- dangerous and too light needy Availability: very commonly available- even large specimens readily available (but costly)