Chamaedorea elegans

Chamaedorea elegans, the parlour palm, is a small, single-stemmed feather palm of the rainforest understorey in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. A slender green cane rarely much over 2 m tall carries a few arching leaves with narrow, dark green leaflets, and it often flowers while still tiny.

Its tolerance of dim light, dry indoor air and crowded roots has made it one of the most widely grown palms in the world. The seed trade still uses its old name, Neanthe bella.

At a glance

• Native range: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras
• Mature size: usually up to about 2 m; 1.5–2.4 m at most in cultivation
• Growth rate: slow, keeping its compact shape for many years
• Light: shade to heavily filtered light; direct sun scorches the leaves
• Water: evenly moist but well-drained
• Cold hardiness: reliable to about 0 °C; brief frosts to about −2 °C damage the leaves
• Indoors / outdoors: an outstanding house plant; outdoors in shady, frost-free spots

Care

Keep it out of direct sun and water whenever the surface begins to dry, never letting it stand in water. It copes with low light and air-conditioning but looks its best in bright, indirect light. Indoor specimens have lived 40–50 years. Watch for spider mites in dry rooms. Avoid potting mixes containing superphosphate, which can brown the leaf tips.

Why Palmpedia: Greenhouse-grown by us in Almeirim, Portugal, and supplied in 15 L to 35 L pots.