About
Chamaerops humilis var. argentea is a shrubby palm that can reach heights of up to 2 meters and tends to produce suckers as it matures. Its fan-like leaves are a silvery-blue hue, made up of narrow leaflets attached to spiny stems. This variety is suitable for tropical borders, demonstrating drought tolerance and the ability to withstand temperatures down to -5°C once it is well-established. It thrives best in controlled environments such as conservatories or greenhouses, especially in regions where winters are not consistently mild.
About the genus
Chamaerops comprises a solitary species of evergreen palm featuring multiple upright stems topped with broad, rounded leaves that are intricately divided into long segments. Its flowers, which are not particularly prominent, emerge in panicles from the lower leaf axils and are succeeded by small, date-shaped fruits.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Conservatory Greenhouse, Palms
- Habit
- Suckering
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Gravel garden, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical, Mediterranean climate plants
- Native to
- Morocco
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Under glass, grow in pots of peat-free multipurpose compost in bright, filtered light with protection from direct summer sun. Water moderately in growth and apply a balanced liquid feed every month during the growing season; mist daily to increase humidity. See palm cultivation indoors for further information. In mild areas grow outdoors in freely-draining soil in sun or partial shade; see palm cultivation outdoors for further information
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by sowing seed in spring at 25°C
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, thrips and scale insects
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)