Parlour Palm

How to care for Parlour Palm

Light

Chamaedorea elegans performs best in bright, indirect light but is notably tolerant of lower light levels, which is one reason it became such a popular houseplant. Direct summer sun, especially through glass, will scorch the fronds and cause them to bleach or turn brown at the tips. A position near a north- or east-facing window, or set back from a south- or west-facing one, is ideal. In very dim spots growth will slow considerably and the plant may become more susceptible to pests.

Watering

Water thoroughly when the top 2 cm of compost have dried out, then allow any excess to drain freely from the pot. The parlour palm dislikes sitting in waterlogged compost, which leads to root rot, but equally it should not be allowed to dry out completely for extended periods as this causes frond tips to brown. Reduce watering frequency in autumn and winter when growth slows, but do not let the root ball become bone dry. Always use room-temperature water; cold water from the tap can shock the roots.

Soil and potting

A well-draining, moderately fertile compost is appropriate. A peat-free multipurpose mix combined with around 20 to 30 per cent perlite or coarse grit works well, providing both adequate moisture retention and the drainage this palm requires. Avoid very heavy or compacted soils. A loam-based compost such as a peat-free John Innes No. 2 with added drainage material is a reliable choice.

Feeding

Feed once a month during the growing season from April to September using a balanced, water-soluble liquid fertiliser at half the manufacturer's recommended strength. Palms are sensitive to fertiliser build-up and salt accumulation in the compost, so avoid overfeeding. Do not fertilise during autumn and winter when the plant is not actively growing. A fertiliser formulated for palms or foliage plants is suitable.

Humidity and temperature

The parlour palm prefers temperatures between 16 and 27 degrees C and should not be exposed to temperatures below 10 degrees C. It dislikes cold draughts and should be kept away from doors, windows that let in cold air, and air conditioning units. Although it tolerates average household humidity, it thrives with a relative humidity of 40 per cent or above. Grouping plants together, placing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles, or using a humidifier will help in centrally heated homes where air tends to be dry.

Repotting

Repot every two to three years in spring, moving up only one pot size at a time. The parlour palm has a relatively small, compact root system and does not need frequent repotting; it actually performs well when slightly root-bound. Choose a pot with drainage holes and use fresh, well-draining compost. Take care not to damage the fragile roots when repotting, as injury to the roots can stress the plant significantly.

Pruning

Pruning requirements are minimal. Remove only fronds that are entirely brown or dead by cutting them cleanly at the base of the stem with clean, sharp scissors or secateurs. Do not cut green or partially green fronds as this will not improve the plant's appearance and may cause unnecessary stress. Avoid trimming brown tips back into green tissue as a cosmetic measure, since cut ends will themselves turn brown.

Is Parlour Palm toxic?

Common problems

How to propagate

Seed

Fresh seeds, if available, can be sown in a free-draining seed compost at a temperature of around 25 to 27 degrees C. Germination is slow and erratic, often taking one to six months; bottom heat from a propagator aids success significantly.

Division

When repotting, multiple stems growing from the same root mass can sometimes be separated carefully and potted individually. Each division must retain a healthy portion of roots; success is not guaranteed and divisions may take time to re-establish.

Where Parlour Palm comes from

Native to Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest.

Story and origins

The genus name Chamaedorea derives from the ancient Greek words 'chamai', meaning 'on the ground' or 'dwarf', and 'dorea', meaning 'gift', a reference to the easily accessible fruits produced close to the ground on these low-growing palms. The species epithet elegans is Latin for 'elegant' or 'graceful', describing the plant's slender, refined appearance. The common name parlour palm reflects its Victorian-era popularity as a decorative plant for the parlours, or formal sitting rooms, of middle-class homes.

Chamaedorea elegans was formally described by the German botanist Heinrich Wilhelm Schott in 1830, though the plant had been known to European botanists through earlier explorations of Mexico and Central America. It gained considerable popularity during the Victorian era, when the fashion for cultivating exotic plants indoors was at its height, and its tolerance of the dim, draughty conditions typical of nineteenth-century interiors made it particularly successful. In its native Mexico, the Nahua peoples and other indigenous groups have long used its leaves in ceremonial and decorative contexts, and the fronds continue to be harvested from wild and semi-cultivated plants for use in the cut-foliage trade, a practice that has led to conservation concerns for some populations in southern Mexico.

Varieties to know

Chamaedorea elegans 'Bella'

A compact cultivar widely sold as the Neanthe Bella Palm, very commonly available and virtually identical in care requirements to the species.

Fun facts

• Chamaedorea elegans can produce small yellow flowers indoors, even in relatively low light, appearing on slender branching stalks; in the wild, pollination produces small black fruits containing seeds.
• It was one of the first palms to be successfully cultivated as an indoor plant at scale, with commercial production for the houseplant trade well established in Europe and the United States by the early twentieth century.
• The cut fronds of Chamaedorea elegans are commonly used by florists and were historically used in Catholic Palm Sunday celebrations, leading to significant harvesting pressure on wild populations in Mexico.
• Despite its common name, the parlour palm is not closely related to many other plants popularly called palms; within Arecaceae it belongs to the large genus Chamaedorea, which contains over 100 species.
• Chamaedorea elegans has been recognised by NASA-affiliated clean air research as having some capacity to remove airborne pollutants such as formaldehyde and benzene, though the practical effect in a typical home is modest.

Parlour Palm FAQ