Chamaerops humilis L.

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

Family: Arecaceae Synonym(s): Chamaerops elegans Hook. 1882

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington

Bark

Taken by Ken Harrington

Frond

Taken by Ken Harrington

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

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

Mature Width

4-5m

Growth Rate

Very Slow, Slow

Very Slow,

Slow

Plant Shape

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

Fine

Frond Texture (back)

Glabrous

Fine

Frond Length

2-2.25m

Frond Aroma

None

Frond Shapes

Palmate Divided

Frond Arrangement

Stemmed Open Crown

Whorled

Stemmed Open Crown,

Whorled

Frond Attachment

Fibrous Sheath

Petiolate

Fibrous Sheath,

Petiolate

Pinna Shape(s) (Frondlet)

Acicular

Pinna Length (Frondlet)

500-550mm, 550-600mm, 600-650mm, 650-700mm, 700-750mm, 750-800mm

500-550mm,

550-600mm,

600-650mm,

650-700mm,

700-750mm,

750-800mm

Pinna Width (Frondlet)

10-15mm, 15-20mm

10-15mm,

15-20mm

Pinnae Arrangement

Digitate

Pinnule Apice(s) (Leaflet)

Acute Narrowly

Frayed

Acute Narrowly,

Frayed

Pinnule Base(s) (Leaflet)

Attenuate

Pinnule Margin(s) (Leaflet)

Entire

Pinnule Cross Section(s) (Leaflet)

Induplicate

Pinnule Venation (Leaflet)

Parallel

Pinnule Attachment (Leaflet)

Sessile

Petiole Length

1-1.5m

Petiole Cross Section

Concave-ribbed

Petiole Texture

Barbs-recurved

Waxy

Barbs-recurved,

Waxy

Petiole Feature(s)

Barbs

Trunk / Stem Properties

Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)

Brown

Colour(s) (Base)

Brown, Grey-brown

Brown,

Grey-brown

Texture (Upper)

Bristly / Hispid

Hairs-dense , Hairs-stiff

Hairs-dense,

Hairs-stiff

Texture (Base)

Bristly / Hispid

Hairs-stiff / Hirsute

Bristly / Hispid,

Hairs-stiff / Hirsute

Hairs-dense

Cross Section

Terete

Diameter

200-250mm

Length

1-1.5m, 1.5-2m, 2-2.5m, 2.5-3m

1-1.5m,

1.5-2m,

2-2.5m,

2.5-3m

Features

Persistent Leaf Bases with overlapping Fibrous Sheaths

Construction

Pith Continuous

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Male

Flowering Time (start)

Spring Early

Flowering Time (end)

Spring Late

Colour(s)

Yellow

Flower Shape(s)

Male Staminate Flower

Aroma(s)

Spicy-Slight

Arrangements

Axillary, Radical / Basal

Pannicle

Axillary, Radical / Basal,

Pannicle

Erect

Arrangement Size(s)

125-150mm

Pollinator(s)

Insects, Wind

Insects,

Wind

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Separate Plant

Gender: Female

Flowering Time (start)

Spring Early

Flowering Time (end)

Spring Late

Colour(s)

Yellow

Flower Shape(s)

Female or Pistillate Flower

Aroma(s)

Spicy-Slight

Arrangements

Axillary, Radical / Basal

Pannicle

Axillary, Radical / Basal,

Pannicle

Erect

Arrangement Size(s)

125-150mm

Pollinator(s)

Insects, Wind

Insects,

Wind

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Separate Plant

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Drupe

Shape(s)

Globose

Orbicular

Globose,

Orbicular

Outer Colour(s)

Brown, Yellow, Yellow-orange

Brown,

Yellow,

Yellow-orange

Outer Texture

Smooth

Length

10-15mm

Aroma

None

Seed Properties

Type

Nut

Seed Dispersal

Animals, Birds

Animals,

Birds

Seed Number

Root Properties

Type

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

Moist

Moist-Dry

Damp,

Moist,

Moist-Dry

Fertile , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Poor

Bird Attraction

Insect, Nesting, Fruit

Insect,

Nesting,

Fruit

Butterfly Attraction

Poor

Frog Habitat

None

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Low

Wood Density

Low < 600kg/c.m.

Coastal

1st Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

Seed, Regrowth, Rhizome

Seed,

Regrowth,

Rhizome

Fire Retarding

Poor

Drought Tolerance

Very Good

Frost Tolerance

Good

Smog Tolerance

Good

Snow Tolerance

None

Indigenous Use(s)

Leaves

Landscape Use

Very Good

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Fronding

Pests/Diseases

Mealy Bug, Scale

Mealy Bug,

Scale

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

Dormancy

Winter

Propagation

Fresh Seed

General Notes

A cold hardy, clumping, fan palm producing 6 -10 stems, for the cooler temperate climates. It can withstand temperatures down to -12^oC, 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

Propagation Notes

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Fresh Seed

Flowering

Sep, Oct, Nov

Seed Collecting

Mar, Apr, May

Sowing

Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Material Preparation

The seed takes 5 - 7 mths to ripen. Pick the fruit when it is very red, off the tree or from off the ground. Peel off the outer flesh or if too hard, soak the seeds in warm water for 48 - 72 hours to loosen the outer flesh. Change the water daily. Discard any seeds that float to the top, keep the ones that sink. Floating seeds won't germinate as they lack an endosperm. Wash the seeds thoroughly with Solvol soap to remove any remaining pulp. Allow to dry. Store in a cool, dark place. It is best to sow the seed as soon as possible for best results.

Viability:-

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

Premium Seed Raising Mix

Treatment

Sow fresh seed into P2 or forestry tubes and cover with mix, water in well with Previcur fungicide mix. Place in hothouse on 21°C heated bed with misters. Maintain hothouse environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect light.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:- 2 - 3 months 3 – 5 months before first frond opens

Pricking out:- N. A.

140mm Pot Mix:- Premium Potting Soil

Offsets

Flowering

Sep, Oct, Nov

Division

Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug

Material Preparation

It will be difficult to seperate offsets as the rhizome is extremely short and tight packed to the mother plant. Select offsets that are approximately a 200 - 400mm. With a sharp knife, secateurs or axe, slice down the side of the stem of the mother plant to remove the offset with roots attached. Keep moist with misting or place in a bucket of water

Propagating Mix

Premium Potting Soil

Treatment

1/4 fill the 140mm pot with mix. Hold the offset over the soil mix in the pot and back fill around the offset and firm down. The offset should stand firm and be approximately the same depth as the original soil level, not too deep or it will rot. Water the pots of mix thoroughly with Previcur fungicide. Place in hot house, keep moist. Maintain hot house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 75-95 %

Nursery Stock 90-95 %

Rooting time:- Field Stock 12 - 16 weeks

Nursery Stock 12 - 16 weeks