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Chamaerops humilis

Phonetic Spelling
kam-AY-rops HEW-mil-is
Description

Eurpean Fan Palm is a beautiful plant, and it grows into a nice shrubby form. If pruned (suckers removed), it will grow into a single trunk tree form (similar form to a palm tree). It makes a nice barrier or group accent at the corner of the landscape. Use in containers for patio, deck or foundation areas. It may even be grown indoors as a houseplant.  It is one of the most cold-hardy palms.

It is a shrub-like, clumping palm with several stems growing from a single base. Other forms for this plant are irregular and bushy. It is easily grown in rich, moist, well-drained soils and prefers a bright sunny location (but tolerates partial shade). It loses its compact shape if it has too much shade. The best growth occurs in Mediterranean-type climates. 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#hardy#full sun tolerant#houseplant#shrub#yellow flowers#salt tolerant#palm#winter interest#Mediterranean#fan shaped#partial shade tolerant#container plant#patio
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#hardy#full sun tolerant#houseplant#shrub#yellow flowers#salt tolerant#palm#winter interest#Mediterranean#fan shaped#partial shade tolerant#container plant#patio
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Chamaerops
    Species:
    humilis
    Family:
    Arecaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Western & Central Mediterranean
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    moderately salt tolerant
    Dimensions:
    Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Houseplant
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Multi-trunked
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Orange
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Fruit is red, purple, or green and look berry-like but a little larger than berries.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    Bright yellow flowers bloom in spring but are somewhat inconspicuous, typically hidden from view behind the leaf stems.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Other/more complex
    Leaf Shape:
    Palmasect
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Huge, distinctive, triangular, fine-textured, palmate-compound leaves. Each light blue-green to silver-green leaf (to 24” long and as wide) has 10-20 narrow, finger-like, deeply divided leaflets that are arranged in the shape of a fan at the end of a spiny petiole (leaf stalk to 3-4’ long). The petioles are armed with numerous sharp, needle-like spines.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Light Gray
    Bark Description:
    Trunk is hairy, light brown/ light gray, and has rough edges.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Container
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Barrier
    Foundation Planting
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Salt