Palms For California

Pronunciation: kam-uh-DOR-ee-uh muh-TAL-ick-uh

Common Name: Metallic Palm; Miniature Fishtail Palm

Chamaedorea metallica is one of the more common Chamaedoreas in cultivation and an excellent palm for both indoor use as well as outdoors in the more moderate climates of California. Like many Chamaedoreas, it makes an excellent potted palm. Does best in shady, moist conditions- hard to overwater this plant. Easy to grow- a good starter species and one of the more attractive small palms. Leggy, tall plants can be airlayered and then cut short and started over again. Very commonly available and affordable from speciality palm nurseries and occasionally offered from less specialized nurseries as well. This is also an excellent indoor palm.

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary Height: 5 to 8 feet Trunk: narrow, green, closely ringed, 1/2" thick Crownshaft: none Spread: 12"-16" Leaf description: entire/bifid- pinnate forms rare but can be found; 1' long; deep, dark green to blue-green with a metallic sheen; relatively thick and leathery Petiole: very short and unarmed Reproduction: dioecious Inflorescence: simple (female) to minimally branched (male) with orange flowers Fruit: black when ripe Seed: 5mm spherical

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 27F Drought Tolerance: moderate Dry Heat Tolerance: low Wind Tolerance: low Salt Tolerance: very low Growth Rate: very slow Soil Preference: rich and well draining but somewhat tolerant of various soils Light Requirement: shade to coastal sun Human Hazards: mildly irritating oxylates in fruits Disease or Horticultural Problems: sun scorch; snail damage; scale and mealybugs Indoor?: one of the best indoor palms