Dwarf Palm Chamaerops humilis
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Dwarf Palm:
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAM-ay-rops HEW-mil-is
- Description
-
The European fan palm is a perennial, evergreen shrub in the palm family (Arecaceae). It is native to the Mediterranean coast of Europe and North Africa. The genus name is from the Greek words for “ground shrub,” referring to its low-to-the-ground stature. The Latin epithet means “low-growing.”
It is easily grown in a bright sunny location (but tolerates partial shade). It loses its compact shape if it has too much shade. It is not particular about soil type, as long as it is well-drained. Once established, it withstands drought and heat. The best growth occurs in Mediterranean-type climates.
European fan palm is a clustering palm that has stocky trunks and a large, bushy, mounded form. If pruned (suckers removed), it will grow into a single trunk tree form, but some cultivars naturally have a single, erect trunk. There is variation in leaf color, leaf shape and texture, and petiole armament.
It makes a nice barrier or group accent at the corner of the landscape. Use in containers for patio, deck or foundation areas. It is often used in commercial landscapes where its slow growth needs little maintenance. It may even be grown indoors as a houseplant, although other palms are more well-suited to the low-light interiors. It is one of the most cold-hardy palms. Use it in a foundation planting, winter garden, formal garden, or drought tolerant garden. The silver variety would be an outstanding addition to a moonlit nighttime garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Overwatering can cause root rot and stem rot. Monitor for mealy bugs, scale, and spider mites when grown indoors.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- C. humilis var. cerifera
A variety with waxy, silvery leaves. - 'Volcano'
A cultivar with stiff, nearly erect leaves.
- C. humilis var. cerifera
- C. humilis var. cerifera, 'Volcano'
- Tags:
![A very large, potted, multi-stemmed palm on a terrace.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Chamaerops_humilis_p_Ko3blldP0EZb.jpeg)
![Commercial landscape with large multi-stemmed palm](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Chamaerops_humilis_p_P1LinFXSICqN.jpeg)
![A dwarf, fan-leaf palm with stiff leaflets](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Chamaerops_humilis__htkaKsWVlziF.jpeg)
![A dwarf, fan-leaf palm with silvery gray leaflets](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Chamaerops_humilis_v_A7NBS0bynIlD.jpeg)
![leaves](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Chamaerops_humilis_l_mX0PNm2pTyzx.jpg)
![Chamaerops humilis](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/chamaerops_humilis_Forest_and_Kim_Starr_ccby20.jpg)
![Chamaerops humilis](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/chamaerops_humilis_bathyporeia_ccbyncnd20.jpg)
![Chamaerops humilis](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/chamaerops_humilis_Martin_LaBar_ccbync20.jpg)
![male flowers](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Chamaerops_humilis__oMhtDEkvr7ZS.jpeg)
![flowers](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Chamaerops_humilis___9aAaUL1QimAd.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Chamaerops_humilis_f_FC3yprJ0zE0Q.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Chamaerops_humilis_p_fBGJlZpsXamJ.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Chamaerops_humilis_p_tSXjE77eHD2k.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Chamaerops_humilis__vGr3yHF2gnc2.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Chamaerops_humilis_v_BDgOkgpigWtu.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Chamaerops_humilis_l_NAyHsimj4Jcm.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/chamaerops_humilis_F_MX3eQnL4os4F.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/chamaerops_humilis_b_w1anRMRjifN4.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/chamaerops_humilis_M_noS371pkFs4n.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Chamaerops_humilis___8qvLrxeu6BVW.jpeg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Chamaerops_humilis___yhIBvYL1OVxD.jpeg)
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- C. humilis var. cerifera
A variety with waxy, silvery leaves. - 'Volcano'
A cultivar with stiff, nearly erect leaves.
- C. humilis var. cerifera
- C. humilis var. cerifera, 'Volcano'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chamaerops
- Species:
- humilis
- Family:
- Arecaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western & Central Mediterranean coasts of Europe and Africa.
- Distribution:
- cultivated in areas with Mediterranean climates.
- 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
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Multi-trunked
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
-
-
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:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Bright yellow flowers bloom in spring but are somewhat hidden from view in the leaf axils.
-
-
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
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- English Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Foundation Planting
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Salt
- Urban Conditions