A parlour palm, the small indoor palm that has been grown in British sitting rooms since the Victorians, and one of the few that is happy in a shaded corner.
Chamaedorea elegans makes a clump of slender stems carrying soft, feathery fronds of narrow light green leaflets. It is slow growing and stays compact, reaching about 1.2m over many years, so it suits a tabletop, a desk or a shelf far more than it suits a floor pot. The arching fronds give a room a green, tropical look without taking over.
It will grow in bright indirect light and also in low to medium light, which is why it turns up in hallways and bathrooms. Keep it out of direct sun, which scorches the leaflets. Water when the top few centimetres of compost feel dry and let the excess drain away, because it dislikes sitting wet. Mist the fronds now and again or stand it near other plants; brown leaf tips come from dry air and hard tap water rather than from underwatering, so rainwater is better if you have it. Keep it in a warm room, above about 12C, and away from cold draughts. Feed monthly in spring and summer and wipe the fronds gently to keep them clean.
Supplied as one established plant with a 2 litre, 17cm root ball, ready to pot into a container of your own. This is an indoor palm and is not the same thing as a hardy garden palm such as Trachycarpus.
Cultural Information
Common Name: Parlour palm, neanthe bella palm
Fully Grown Height and Spread: Up to 1.2m x 1m indoors, very slowly
Growth Habit: Upright and clump forming with arching fronds
Perfect For: Living rooms, bedrooms, offices, bathrooms and shaded corners
Foliage: Feathery pinnate fronds of slender light green leaflets
Flowering Time: Grown for foliage
Planting Position: Bright to low indirect light indoors
Soil Type: Free-draining, peat-free houseplant compost
Hardiness: Tender, indoor only; keep above 12C
Maintenance: Low; water when the surface dries and mist in a dry room
Seasonal Interest: Evergreen foliage all year
Type: Evergreen indoor palm
