Chamaerops humilis L.

Common name(s): European Fan Palm, Mediterranean Dwarf Palm, African Hair Palm

Family: Arecaceae Synonym(s): Chamaerops elegans Hook. 1882
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington
Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington
Bark
Bark
Taken by Ken Harrington
Frond
Frond
Taken by Ken Harrington
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Rachis / Stem
Taken by Ken Harrington
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Palm / Palm Ally Properties
Origin(s)
Algeria
  • Algeria: Indigenous
France
  • France: Indigenous
Italy
  • Italy: Indigenous
  • Sardinia: Indigenous
  • Sicily: Indigenous
Malta
  • Malta: Indigenous
Monaco
  • Monaco: Indigenous
Morocco
  • Morocco: Indigenous
Spain
  • Balearic: Indigenous
Tunisia
  • Tunisia: Indigenous
Plant Type
Clumping, Palm Fan-leaved
Clumping,
Palm Fan-leaved
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Oceanic, Temperate Cool, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean
Oceanic,
Temperate Cool,
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full
Sun - Full
Habitat Range(s)
Forest - Grassy, Grasslands, Mediterranean (Maquis Shrubland), Open Woodlands
Forest - Grassy,
Grasslands,
Mediterranean (Maquis Shrubland),
Open Woodlands
Habitat Zone(s)
Cliffs, Exposed Stony embankments, Garden, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Heavy soils, Hill Sides, Landscape, Moist Slopes, Open areas, Plains, Ridges, Rock crevices, Rocky, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Well drained
Cliffs,
Exposed Stony embankments,
Garden,
Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,
Heavy soils,
Hill Sides,
Landscape,
Moist Slopes,
Open areas,
Plains,
Ridges,
Rock crevices,
Rocky,
Sandy Moist,
Scattered,
Well drained
Mature Height
4-5m
4-5m
Mature Width
4-5m
4-5m
Growth Rate
Very Slow, Slow
Very Slow,
Slow
Plant Shape
Bun - Broad
Bun - Broad
Bun - Broad Bun - Broad
Life Span
50-100yrs, 100-150yrs
50-100yrs,
100-150yrs
Frond Properties
Frond Colour(s) (front)
Blue-green, Silver-green
Blue-green,
Silver-green
Frond Colour(s) (back)
Blue-green, Silver-green
Blue-green,
Silver-green
Frond Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Glabrous Glabrous
Fine
Fine
Frond Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Glabrous Glabrous
Fine
Fine
Frond Length
2-2.25m
2-2.25m
Frond Aroma
None
None
Frond Shapes
Palmate Divided
Palmate Divided
Palmate Divided Palmate Divided
Frond Arrangement
Stemmed Open Crown
Stemmed Open Crown
Whorled
Whorled
Stemmed Open Crown Stemmed Open Crown,
Whorled Whorled
Trunk / Stem Properties
Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)
Brown
Brown
Colour(s) (Base)
Brown, Grey-brown
Brown,
Grey-brown
Texture (Upper)
Bristly / Hispid
Bristly / Hispid
Bristly / Hispid Bristly / Hispid
Hairs-dense , Hairs-stiff
Hairs-dense,
Hairs-stiff
Texture (Base)
Bristly / Hispid
Bristly / Hispid
Hairs-stiff / Hirsute
Hairs-stiff / Hirsute
Bristly / Hispid Bristly / Hispid,
Hairs-stiff / Hirsute Hairs-stiff / Hirsute
Hairs-dense
Hairs-dense
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Male
Flowering Time (start)
Spring Early
Spring Early
Flowering Time (end)
Spring Late
Spring Late
Colour(s)
Yellow
Yellow
Flower Shape(s)
Male Staminate Flower
Male Staminate Flower
Male Staminate Flower Male Staminate Flower
Aroma(s)
Spicy-Slight
Spicy-Slight
Arrangements
Axillary, Radical / Basal
Axillary, Radical / Basal
Pannicle
Pannicle
Axillary, Radical / Basal Axillary, Radical / Basal,
Pannicle Pannicle
Erect
Erect
Pollinator(s)
Insects, Wind
Insects,
Wind
Male and Female Flowers Borne
On Separate Plant
On Separate Plant
Gender: Female
Flowering Time (start)
Spring Early
Spring Early
Flowering Time (end)
Spring Late
Spring Late
Colour(s)
Yellow
Yellow
Flower Shape(s)
Female or Pistillate Flower
Female or Pistillate Flower
Female or Pistillate Flower Female or Pistillate Flower
Aroma(s)
Spicy-Slight
Spicy-Slight
Arrangements
Axillary, Radical / Basal
Axillary, Radical / Basal
Pannicle
Pannicle
Axillary, Radical / Basal Axillary, Radical / Basal,
Pannicle Pannicle
Erect
Erect
Pollinator(s)
Insects, Wind
Insects,
Wind
Male and Female Flowers Borne
On Separate Plant
On Separate Plant
Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties
Type
Drupe
Drupe
Drupe Drupe
Shape(s)
Globose
Globose
Orbicular
Orbicular
Globose Globose,
Orbicular Orbicular
Length
10-15mm
10-15mm
Aroma
None
None
Root Properties
Type
Rhizome Stoloniferous
Rhizome Stoloniferous
Rhizome Stoloniferous Rhizome Stoloniferous
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter
Clay-loam,
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Hummus Rich,
Organic Matter
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline, Alkaline
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline,
Alkaline
Condition(s)
Damp
Damp
Moist
Moist
Moist-Dry
Moist-Dry
Damp Damp,
Moist Moist,
Moist-Dry Moist-Dry
Fertile , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
Slight
Slight
Slight Slight
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Poor
Poor
Bird Attraction
Insect, Nesting, Fruit
Insect,
Nesting,
Fruit
Butterfly Attraction
Poor
Poor
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
1st Line
1st Line
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
Poor
Poor
Drought Tolerance
Very Good
Very Good
Frost Tolerance
Good
Good
Smog Tolerance
Good
Good
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Landscape Use
Very Good
Very Good
Special Purpose(s)
Garden-Container, Erosion Control, Foliage-Interesting, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Tropical, Interesting Trunk, Litter Issue - Fruit, Screen, Shady Dry, Shady Moist, Specimen, Suckering, Sunny Dry, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Cockatoo's, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Parrot's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares, Windbreak
Garden-Container,
Erosion Control,
Foliage-Interesting,
Garden-Coastal,
Garden-Foliage,
Garden-Mediterranean,
Garden-Tropical,
Interesting Trunk,
Litter Issue - Fruit,
Screen,
Shady Dry,
Shady Moist,
Specimen,
Suckering,
Sunny Dry,
Sunny Moist,
Tolerant-Cockatoo's,
Tolerant-Deer,
Tolerant-Kangaroo's,
Tolerant-Parrot's,
Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares,
Windbreak

General Notes

A cold hardy, clumping, fan palm producing 6 -10 stems, for the cooler temperate climates. It can withstand temperatures down to -12oC, high winds, heat and drought.  It is the northern most growing palm in the world. The palm is an important food source and habitat for a weevil, Derelomus chamaeropsis. The leaves have been used for making brooms, weaving mats, carrier baskets etc. As the clump grows very tightly together, removing offsets is extremely difficult.

The fan leaf consists of 10-20 leaflets (pinnae).

There is three accepted varieties and cultivars C. humilis var. argentea Atlas Mountain Palm                                                                                                                                                                   C. humilis var. epondraes North West Africa, glaucous leaves                                                                                                                                           C. humilis var. humilis South West Europe, green leaves                                                                                                                                                 C. humilis var. humilis 'Nana' dwarf form                                                                                                                                                                           C. humilis 'Vulcano' compact, thornless, silvery foliage                                                                                                                                                   C. humilis 'Stella'

It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit