Parlor Palm
Chamaedorea elegans
The palm that has lived in American living rooms since the 1800s, and still tolerates low light.
About this plant
The Parlor Palm was popular with the Victorians and remains a firm favorite. An elegant plant, easy to look after, with excellent air purifying qualities. They are undemanding in terms of light, water, temperature, humidity and feed, making them perfect for those of us that like low-maintenance room-mates.
Chamaedorea elegans has bright green leaves on slender, arching stems. The leaves are pinnate, meaning it has feathered leaflets arranged on either side of the stem. With the Parlor Palm, these leaflets form opposite pairs and there can be as many as 40 leaflets on each leaf. Small yellow flowers appear on mature plants if they have sufficient light. Chamaedorea elegans also has the Latin name Neanthe bella. Its common names are Parlor Palm and Dwarf Mountain Palm.
| Botanical name | Chamaedorea elegans |
|---|---|
| Sizes | 4½" pot · 16" tall 5½" pot · 22" tall 6½" pot · 24" tall 7½" pot · 31" tall |
| Growth habit | Upright |
| Ships in | Plastic nursery pot with drainage holes |
| Guarantee | 30-day Arrive-Alive |
Care card
Chamaedorea elegans
- Light
- Low to bright, indirectHappy several feet from a north window or in an inner room with good lamps. More light means faster growth.
- Water
- When the top inch is dryRoughly every 1 to 2 weeks, less in winter. Check with a finger before you water.
- Humidity
- Average home humidityNo misting needed. Keep it away from heating and AC vents.
- Pets
- Non-toxic to cats and dogsListed as non-toxic by the ASPCA. Still best kept away from determined chewers.
- Care level
- Easygoing
