Dwarf palm ∗ The big guide from A to Z

Characteristics

• Scientific name: Chamaerops humilis
• Family: Palm family (Arecaceae)
• Origin: Mediterranean
• Type: Fan Palm
• Growth: multi-stemmed, bushy
• Growth height: 100 cm to 500 cm
• leaf: stalked, slotted
• Flower: panicle
• Flowering time: April to June
• Toxicity: non-toxic
• Hardiness: conditionally hardy
• Use: container plant

Detailed view of dwarf palms in the Mediterranean

hardiness

Chamaerops humilis is certified as winter hardy down to -15° Celsius. It is important to note that frost tolerance is limited to isolated days or nights. In fact, frozen ground makes the roots one dwarf palm very workable. The permafrost in February 2018 or the harsh winter of 2020/21 with biting frost and snow even in regions with mild winter would have reliably killed your planted dwarf palm. In conclusion, it can be said that dwarf palms are classified as conditionally hardy and that Chamaerops varieties should not be planted out.

growth

how big can she get This is an important question when cultivating a dwarf palm as a container plant. In fact, the German name hides the fact that dwarf palms develop space-consuming growth in the bucket over the years. The following key data must be recorded:

• Multi-stemmed to bushy
• Growth more in width than in height
• Growth height in the pot: 100 to 200 cm, rarely higher
• Growth height in the Mediterranean region: 400 to 500 cm
• Growth per year: 5 to 10 cm north of the Alps, up to 20 cm on the Mediterranean

blossom

A decorative plus is early flowering of young Chamaerops humilis from a growth height of 80 centimeters. From April to June, your dwarf palm boasts bright yellow panicles of flowers that stand out between the thorny leaf stalks. Pollinated flowers turn into orange berries by fall.

Sheet

Leaves that are worth seeing are the most beautiful decoration of a dwarf palm. The palm fronds are characterized by the following properties:

• Leaf shape: semi-circular fan
• Diameter: 60 to 70 cm
• leaf-blade: deeply slit
• Petiole: up to 45 cm long, with sharp thorns
• Leaf color: dark green to blue-green, sometimes silvery underneath

The leaves are so firm that the fans keep their shape even on the windy balcony.

toxicity

The dwarf palm is not poisonous. However, the hard thorns on the petiole should not be underestimated. It is advisable to place the fan palm out of the reach of children. We also recommend wearing thorn-proof gloves when planting and tending.

digression

Dream team dwarf palm and dwarf date palm

Plant dwarf palm

On the subject of winter hardiness, the fact sheet states that you cannot plant a dwarf palm north of the Alps. As a container plant, the distinctive fan palm spreads Mediterranean flair on the balcony and terrace until the first frost. Read the following tips about which soil belongs in the bucket, where you should ideally place the dwarf palm and how the propagation succeeds.

substrate

Chamaerops appreciate a coarse-grained, humus-rich and well-drained substrate with a portion of loam and a few handfuls of sand. Optimal prevention against fatal waterlogging is the addition of expanded clay or lava granules.(€14.00 at Amazon*) The pH value plays a key role with an ideal value of 5.5 to 6.5. Before pouring the substrate into a deep, wide bucket, please place some potsherds on the bottom for drainage.

Location

In our latitudes, the dwarf palm becomes a vagabond in the bucket. A repeated change of location in the course of the year simulates the general conditions in the Mediterranean region. How to do it right:

• Rule of thumb: sunny to bright all year round, warm in summer, cool and frost-free in winter
• Early/mid-March to early/mid-April: harden during the day penumbra on the balcony or terrace (put away in the evening)
• From May: full sun to shade
• End of September/beginning of October: move in front of the house wall
• November/December: Allow from -5° Celsius

In the wintering section, various location options are explained in more detail with tips on suitable winter quarters.

propagation

The dwarf palm provides you with the perfect starting material for easy propagation. Lateral offshoots grow at the base of the trunk. These children already look very similar to their mother plant. If you separate a cutting, it should already have formed its own roots, recognizable by the noticeable resistance to a slight pull. Plant the Palmenkindel in a pot coconut soil or pricking soil. Moisten the substrate with room-warm, lime-free irrigation water. Care for the offshoot in a warm, bright window seat at an ideal 20° to 23° Celsius.

Propagation by seeds is more time consuming. Before the sowing the hard seed coat is roughened with emery paper and the seed is soaked in water for 48 hours. Fill the dark germs with moist coconut soil in a freezer bag or sealable can. Store the seed jar at 22° to 27° Celsius. Germination does not require light. Constant moisture in the seed substrate is important. Now patience is required, because palm seeds only germinate after many weeks and months.

Maintain dwarf palm

Changing locations over the course of the year result in alternating water requirements. The optimal nutrient supply is tailored to the season. Successful hibernation depends on the general conditions in the winter quarters. Cutting is even less common on the care program than repotting. In the following short instructions you can read how to properly care for a dwarf palm tree and how to solve problems skilfully.

Pour

collected rainwater your dwarf palm very much likes it as irrigation water. Alternatively, you can cover the water requirement with well-stale tap water. How to water correctly:

• casting needs: Substrate has dried on the surface.
• watering: penetrating until the coaster fills up.
• rework: Pour out the coaster after 20 minutes.

How often you water a dwarf palm depends on the time of year. In the sweltering hot summer, check the need for watering in the early morning and in the evening by finger testing. During the cold season, your fan palm needs very little water.

Fertilize

From April to September enter a liquid palm fertilizer into the water. Alternatively, administer one in April and June long-term fertilizer in the form of sticks or granules. Pour clear water before and after for optimal nutrient absorption.

hibernate

There are various options for hibernation. Temperature and light conditions in the winter quarters decide on the modified care. The following overview gives the details:

• Premium winter quarters: bright (1000 to 1200 lux) and temperate at 10° to 12° Celsius
• Optional locations: winter garden, glazed terrace, stairwell, wintering tent on the balcony
• Alternatively: twilight (500 to 800 lux) and cool at 5° to 8° Celsius
• Optional locations: garage with windows, garden house(€399.00 at Amazon*) with frost guard

The rule of thumb for the winter care program is: the darker and cooler the winter quarters, the more economical the watering.

To cut

The dwarf palm grows best without pruning. To cut of palm trees is always tricky because the only growing point is at the top of the canopy. The only reason for trimming is a dead leaf. Please be patient until the fan has dried up brown. Leave a 3 cm piece of the petiole for a trunk of even thickness.

repot

Every few years a dwarf palm has rooted through the tub. If the first roots push out of the ground or peek out of the bottom of the pot, you should repot the fan palm. The best time is in the spring, just before moving to the balcony. On this occasion, rooted offshoots can be easily cut off for propagation.

solve problems

The dwarf palm is usually spared from diseases. If there are problems, it is either a lack of care or pest infestation. The following table gives an overview of common damage patterns, names the causes and gives tips for countermeasures:

Popular Varieties

Chamaerops humilis is not the only dwarf palm that has won the hearts of hobby gardeners with its Mediterranean charm and ornamental palm fronds, as the following selection of varieties shows:

• Chamaerops humilis volcano: compact, slow growth, firm fan leaves, very easy to care for.
• Chamaerops compacta: Synonymous with the premium variety Volcano.
• Chamaerops humilis cerifera: Blue dwarf palm, silver-blue leaves, also tolerates partial shade.
• Chamaerops excelsa: Synonym for Trachycarpus fortunei (hemp palm), single-stem fan palm, petiole without thorns, 4 m to 9 m tall.

Extra tip: The bottom of this variety list shows how important it is to get the exact, scientific name of the dwarf palm you want when you buy it.

FAQ

When is a dwarf palm allowed out on the balcony?

To protect against sunburn, we recommend wintering out in stages. From March or April, a dwarf palm can go out on the balcony to a semi-shaded location during the day. Check beforehand that the temperatures do not fall below the freezing point of -5° Celsius. After a two-week phase of acclimatization, the dwarf palm takes its regular place in the sunny location.

Can you get oil from dwarf palm fruits?

The ripe berries of a dwarf palm contain, among other things, a fatty oil. Compared to the fruits of real oil palms (Elaeis guineensis), the proportion is negligible and the manufacturing process is extremely complex. Oil palms produce up to 6000 berries weighing up to 50 kilograms, which makes processing into palm oil worthwhile, despite global protests environmental organizations.

How can you soften dwarf palm irrigation water with home remedies?

Hobby gardeners swear by a simple household remedy to make hard tap water digestible for a dwarf palm. Fill a cotton bag with a liter of peat or bark mulch. Tie the bag shut and hang it in a 10 liter watering can with tap water. Hard tap water turns into soft irrigation water within 24 to 48 hours.