California Gardens - The Year Round Gardening Site

Chamaerops humilis ~ Mediterranean Fan Palm

Chamaerops humilis may be the hardiest palm, if not it runs a close second to the Windmill Palm, Trachycarpus fortunei. Chamaerops humilis certainly has not shown any sign of weakness here. The Mediterranean Fan Palm is small and puts on less than a foot of new growth each year. I like that in a palm. That means that there will be fewer trips to the dumpster keeping this one clean. Chamaerops humils is a bit on the wicked side with the spines of the fronds. Chamaerops humilis pups prolifically and will form a nice clump in no time if the pups are not removed. I periodically strip off the old fronds, cutting each frond below the lowest spines to remove future hazards. Chamaerops humilis will persist in some of the poorest soils, but like most other plants likes the good stuff.

Chamaerops humilis, Mediterranian Fan Palm

Flowers and foliage of Chamaerops humilis the Mediterranean Fan Palm.