Carol Cloud Bailey
Family
Arecaceae
Botanical Name
Chamaedorea elegans
Plant Common Name
Neanthe Bella Palm, Parlor Palm, Table Top Palm
General Description
The elegant parlor palm is a small evergreen palm that’s a favorite for interiorscape as well as tropical and subtropical landscapes. It is native to the rainforests of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, but sadly it’s rare in the wild due to deforestation and over-collecting.
The pinnate fronds of this palm are light to medium green and, or feather-like, with narrow leaflets. They are held upright but gracefully arch downwards. In the warmth of late spring, tiny yellow flowers are borne on a branched stem that reach just beyond the fronds. The plants are dioecious, which means individual plants have either male flowers or female, never both. When the flowers start to wane, the stems become orange, and the female plants produce lots of small, round, black fruits.
Parlor palm performs poorly in direct sunlight, growing best in shady or partly shady conditions. Provide it with well-drained, humus-rich soil that is not highly alkaline. It is among the most popular palms worldwide for houseplant culture. In frost-free climates, it makes a nice small accent palm for shady borders under larger trees, or as a foundation plant. It can also makes a fine patio plant.
The fruits contain calcium oxalate crystals and there may be health concerns with the ingestion or handling them. To learn more see:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/EP/EP23800.pdf
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
10 - 15
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Palm or Cycad
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Sun Exposure
Partial Shade, Full Shade
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Height
6'-10' / 1.8m - 3.0m (6)
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Width
3'-5' / 0.9m - 1.5m
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Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
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Native To
Mexico, Central America
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Yellow
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Fruit Color
Black
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Green
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Bark Color
Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Smooth
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Usage
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Attracts
Birds
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Self-Sowing
Yes
