• Photo of Chamaerops humilis (Chamaerops humiliss)

Plant Profile: Chamaerops humilis

Taxonomy: Chamaerops humilis

Names

European Fan Palm, Mediterranean Fan Palm

  • Photo of Chamaerops humilis (Chamaerops humiliss)

Phonetic Spelling:kam-AY-rops HEW-mil-is

Genus:Chamaerops

Species:humilis

Family:Arecaceae

The European Fan Palm is an attractive plant that develops into a lovely shrub-like form. When pruned by removing suckers, it can transform into a single-trunk tree, resembling a traditional palm tree. This palm serves as an excellent barrier or a striking accent in landscape corners. It can also be utilized in containers for patios, decks, or foundation areas, and is even suitable for indoor cultivation as a houseplant. Notably, it is among the most cold-hardy palm species.

This clumping palm features multiple stems emerging from a single base, while other variations may appear irregular and bushy. It thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soil and prefers a bright, sunny spot, although it can tolerate partial shade. However, excessive shade can cause it to lose its compact shape. Optimal growth is typically seen in Mediterranean climates.

Chamaerops humilis Feature Summary

Chamaerops humilis Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#hardy
#full sun tolerant
#houseplant
#shrub
#yellow flowers
#tree
#salt tolerant
#palm
#winter interest
#Mediterranean
#fan shaped
#patio planting
#partial shade tolerant
#container plants

Similar Plants

Chamaerops humilis Feature Summary

Fruit
Fruit is red, purple, or green and look berry-like but a little larger than berries.
Green
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
Purple/Lavender
Orange
< 1 inch
Flowers
Bright yellow flowers bloom in spring but are somewhat inconspicuous, typically hidden from view behind the leaf stems.
Gold/Yellow
Leaves
Huge, distinctive, triangular, fine-textured, palmate-compound leaves. Each light blue-green to silver-green leaf (to 24” long and as wide) has 10-20 narrow, finger-like, deeply divided leaflets that are arranged in the shape of a fan at the end of a spiny petiole (leaf stalk to 3-4’ long). The petioles are armed with numerous sharp, needle-like spines.
Green
Gray/Silver
Blue
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Other/more complex
Palmasect
Entire
Lobed
> 6 inches
> 6 inches
Bark
Trunk is hairy, light brown/ light gray, and has rough edges.
Light Gray
Light Brown
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Tree
Houseplant
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Rounded
Erect
Clumping
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
12-24 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Coastal
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
High Organic Matter
Landscape
Foundation Planting
Accent
Specimen
Barrier
Container
Patio
Houseplants
Coastal

Chamaerops humilis Attributes

Chamaerops humilis: Country Or Region Of Origin

Western & Central Mediterranean

Chamaerops humilis: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

moderately salt tolerant

Chamaerops humilis: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Chamaerops humilis: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Chamaerops humilis Fruit

Chamaerops humilis: Fruit Description

Fruit is red, purple, or green and look berry-like but a little larger than berries.

Chamaerops humilis: Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Green
grass
Orange
grass
Purple/Lavender
grass
Red/Burgundy

Chamaerops humilis: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Chamaerops humilis: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Chamaerops humilis Flowers

Chamaerops humilis: Flower Description

Bright yellow flowers bloom in spring but are somewhat inconspicuous, typically hidden from view behind the leaf stems.

Chamaerops humilis: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Chamaerops humilis: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Chamaerops humilis: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Chamaerops humilis Leaves

Chamaerops humilis: Leaf Description

Huge, distinctive, triangular, fine-textured, palmate-compound leaves. Each light blue-green to silver-green leaf (to 24” long and as wide) has 10-20 narrow, finger-like, deeply divided leaflets that are arranged in the shape of a fan at the end of a spiny petiole (leaf stalk to 3-4’ long). The petioles are armed with numerous sharp, needle-like spines.

Chamaerops humilis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Chamaerops humilis: Leaf Color

spa
Blue
spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green

Chamaerops humilis: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Chamaerops humilis: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Chamaerops humilis: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Chamaerops humilis: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Chamaerops humilis: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Chamaerops humilis: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Chamaerops humilis: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Chamaerops humilis: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Chamaerops humilis Bark

Chamaerops humilis: Bark Description

Trunk is hairy, light brown/ light gray, and has rough edges.

Chamaerops humilis: Bark Color

grass
Light Brown
grass
Light Gray

Chamaerops humilis Whole Plant Traits

Chamaerops humilis: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Chamaerops humilis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Chamaerops humilis: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Chamaerops humilis: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Chamaerops humilis: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Chamaerops humilis Cultural Conditions

Chamaerops humilis: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Chamaerops humilis: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Chamaerops humilis: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Chamaerops humilis: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Chamaerops humilis: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Chamaerops humilis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Chamaerops humilis: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Chamaerops humilis Stem

Chamaerops humilis: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Chamaerops humilis Landscape

Chamaerops humilis: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Chamaerops humilis: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Chamaerops humilis: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland