Chamaerops humilis

Mediterranean Fan Palm

Landscape Environment

Grow Region: 8b-11

Origin: Coastal Mediterranean, near the sea

Drought Tolerance: High

Cold Tolerance: 5-15 degrees, depending on age

Salt Tolerance: High

Soil: Adaptable

Light: Full Sun

Charateristics

Mature Height: 10 to 18 feet cultivated, but normally smaller in natural habitat

Trunk: Grey, corky, rough rings , Clustered

Leaf: About 3 feet in diameter, deeply and variously divided, stiff segments, split at tips

Leaf Petiole: 3 to 5 feet long

Armature: Fierce, short orange-redish teeth pointing toward the leaf

Color: Silvery green to blue green

Flowers: Short and concealed within leaves

Fruit: Yellow, orange, or brown

Human Uses:Specimen

Classification

Subfamily: Coryphoideae

Tribe: Corypheae

Subtribe: Thrinacinae

Item #: 4010-1
Availability: In Stock
In Stock Quantity: 511
Price: $100.00
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    Clear Trunk Height:

    How we measure palms



    Conditions for Growth

    The Mediterranean fan palm is drought resistant and tolerates a variety of environments, from sea level to a few thousand feet elevation. It is found as far north as San Francisco and south to the Mexican border. Able to withstand temperatures well below freezing, and in some cases temporary stress down to 15 degrees, this palm thrives equally well in the hot desert sun with decent soil and regular watering. Few palms are so forgiving given any combination of poor soil, drought, wind, full desert sun or partial shade, temperatures both freezing and hot at elevations low and high, even surviving in granite, rocky outcroppings.

    Given good conditions, shelter from wind swept areas, along with a bit of water and decent alkaline-rich soil, the Mediterranean Fan palm will provide a wonderful, striking multi-trunk specimen with deep green leaves and multiple curved trunks. They grow nicely in tubs, planters or containers for many years.

    Growth Rate and Size

    Given a rather slow growth rate of 3-4 inches per year, it can take many years to reach a mature height of 10-18 feet. Neglected specimens can max out around 6-8 feet in height. Large specimens of are a prized find. The stem is covered with dense, fibrous brown persistent leaf bases.

    Description

    The most common habit of the Mediterranean Fan features a cluster of stems, or trunks, generally with a dominant trunk and smaller clusters arching out from a common base.

    The leaf branch, or petiole, length ranges from 3-5 feet and features unusual armature, with short, pointed teeth that sweep forward, nearly parallel to the petiole, their tips pointed toward the leaf. The leaves are persistent, and depending on preference, should undergo periodic trimming.

    The stiff, palmate leaf emanates from the petiole and grows up to 3 feet in width, with a deep green to silvery green color. Segments split the leaf in various lengths down to about half the length of the leaf. The leaves are deeply divided, induplicate, and bifid at the tips.

    The flowering bracts are quite short, borne within the crown of leaves, and can feature striking, globulous, yellow-orange to bright red-orange fruit.

    Technical Description

    The Chamaerops humilis trunk is clustered, with an apleonanthic flowering habit, reaching a height of 10 to 18 feet cultivated, but normally smaller in natural habitat. Slow growth rate of 6 inches per year. The leaves are strongly persistent and fibrous and when mature and/or free of leaf bases reveal a grey, corky, rough rings stem pattern. The leaf is about 3 feet in diameter, deeply and variously divided, stiff segments, split at tips, palmate, silvery green to blue green with induplicate splitting along adaxial ridges leaf divisions. The petiole is 3 to 5 feet long with fierce, short orange-redish teeth pointing toward the leaf armature. Fruit from this species is yellow, orange, or brown.