Chamaedorea elegans
Parlor Palm
SKU: 2267-015d
Chamaedorea elegans, the neanthe bella palm or parlour palm, is one of the most extensively sold houseplant palms in the world.
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
It is often cultivated in temperate regions as a houseplant and in gardens in Southeastern United States, where it grows to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall with very slow growth. It is most-often planted and sold in batches of 5-30 seedlings. Over time, a few emergent plants begin to dominate as the weaker/smaller seedlings are crowded out for light and eventually die, leaving within a few years of purchase a few survivors which develop stems and can live for many decades in a pot. It tolerates low levels of humidity and light, though it prefers medium to high humidity and bright indirect light. Chamaedorea elegans is intolerant of frost and must be kept indoors in winter in non-tropical climates.
It enjoys light potting soil, good humidity and moderate lighting without direct sunlight, but it accommodates a certain dryness, high humidity or reduced lighting. The plant was successful in the Victorian era because it survived in the dark and often unheated British homes of the time, and in greenhouses which were used to grow and cultivate exotic plants, a practice fashionable at the time.
Propagation is done only by sowing seed.
In a potted environment, pruning can be done with mature plants from the bottom only (cutting the top off is fatal) and only if adventitious roots are available. As the stem grows additional roots, the bottom of the stem can be severed and the plant re-rooted from the roots higher up the stem.
Hardiness zones: 9-12 outdoors, or grow as a houseplant
Seeds per packet: 15
Chamaedorea elegans, the neanthe bella palm or parlour palm, is one of the most extensively sold houseplant palms in the world.
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
It is often cultivated in temperate regions as a houseplant and in gardens in Southeastern United States, where it grows to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall with very slow growth. It is most-often planted and sold in batches of 5-30 seedlings. Over time, a few emergent plants begin to dominate as the weaker/smaller seedlings are crowded out for light and eventually die, leaving within a few years of purchase a few survivors which develop stems and can live for many decades in a pot. It tolerates low levels of humidity and light, though it prefers medium to high humidity and bright indirect light. Chamaedorea elegans is intolerant of frost and must be kept indoors in winter in non-tropical climates.
It enjoys light potting soil, good humidity and moderate lighting without direct sunlight, but it accommodates a certain dryness, high humidity or reduced lighting. The plant was successful in the Victorian era because it survived in the dark and often unheated British homes of the time, and in greenhouses which were used to grow and cultivate exotic plants, a practice fashionable at the time.
Propagation is done only by sowing seed.
In a potted environment, pruning can be done with mature plants from the bottom only (cutting the top off is fatal) and only if adventitious roots are available. As the stem grows additional roots, the bottom of the stem can be severed and the plant re-rooted from the roots higher up the stem.
Hardiness zones: 9-12 outdoors, or grow as a houseplant
Seeds per packet: 15
