Chamaerops humilis
| Chamaerops humilis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 5' |
| Width: | 5' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Early Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Chamaerops humilis (common name: dwarf fan palm)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe, the old seed can be slow and difficult to germinate. Scarification or pre-soaking stored seed for 1 - 2 days can be helpful[1]. Sown in a warm greenhouse, the seed usually germinates in 3 - 4 months (but can take longer) at 25°c[1]. The seed produces a long root some time before a shoot appears above ground and it can be potted up at this time[2]. Grow the plants on in the greenhouse for at least a couple of years before planting them out into their permanent positions in the summer.
Suckers, removed in spring.
Cultivation: Easily grown in a rich strong loam enriched with leafmold and sand[3]. Plants grow in poor dry soils in the wild[4]. Requires very good drainage with abundant moisture in the summer and a sunny position[3][5]. Another report says that plants grow well in dry conditions and are drought tolerant[6]. Tolerates low light levels and can be grown in the home[4]. Requires a position sheltered from the wind and cold[7].
This species tolerates occasional short-lived lows down to about -10°c[4][8]. It will not tolerate recurring bouts of freezing over several days, nor does it survive freezing of the root system[8]. Plants are hardy in the milder areas of Britain, succeeding from S. Hampshire south and westwards[3][5][9]. Plants growing outdoors at Kew fruited in October 1989[K].
Palms usually have deep penetrating root systems and generally establish best when planted out at a young stage. However, older plants are substantially more cold tolerant than juvenile plants[8]. In areas at the limit of their cold tolerance, therefore, it is prudent to grow the plants in containers for some years, giving them winter protection, and only planting them into their permanent positions when sheer size dictates[8]. Palms can also be transplanted even when very large. Although the thick fleshy roots are easily damaged and/or desiccated, new roots are generally freely produced. It is important to stake the plant very firmly to prevent rock, and also to give it plenty of water until re-established - removing many of the leaves can also help[8]. Another report says that this species dislikes root disturbance[10].
Some botanists recognise a sub-species C. humilis arborescens (Pers.)Steud. (a taller growing form) and a cultivar 'Nana' which is smaller than the type and suckers. It is likely that these are no more than phenotypes and that this variety of habit can be induced in cultivation, plants in stressful situations such as near the coast duplicating the 'Nana' form whilst plants in optimum conditions are more like sub-species arborescens[4].
Plants in the wild are usually found in poor soils and seldom exceed 1.5 metres tall. When grown in better soils in gardens, however, they can grow up to 5 metres tall[6].
Range: Europe - Mediterranean.
Habitat: Nutritionally poor, dry sandy or rocky soils on mountain slopes to 1000 metres[11][12][7][4].
Edibility: Very young leaf buds are cooked as a vegetable[13][14][15][16]. The young shoots or suckers from the bottom of the plant are also used[17][16].
Fruit - dried[18][16]. No further details.
Usage: A strong fibre obtained from the leaves is used for cordage and brushes[13][14][12][19][20][8]. The whole leaf can be used in weaving.
Plants have been used to form hedges in Mediterranean areas[6].
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Monoecious
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rice, Graham. Growing from Seed Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan, 1987.
- ↑ Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2. Pan Books, London, 1998.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Taylor, Jane. The Milder Garden. Dent, 1990.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 McMillan-Browse. Palms for Cooler Climates. Trebah Enterprises, 1993.
- ↑ Thurston, Edgar. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall. Cambridge University Press, 1930.
- ↑ Corbetta, Francisco. The COmplete Book of Fruits and Vegetables. 1985.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press, 1987.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of Europe. Oxford University Press, 1969.
- ↑ Hill, Albert. Economic Botany. The Maple Press, 1952.