Chamaerops humilis

Common Names

European Fan Palm, Mediterranean Dwarf Palm, Dwarf Fan Palm, Mediterranean Fan Palm, African Hair Palm

Summary

European fan palm is native to the western Mediterranean and Europe; it is an evergreen, slow-growing palm that typically forms a bushy multi-trunk clump 6–15 ft tall and 6–20 ft wide, with large palmate blue-green to silvery-green leaves featuring 10–20 leaflets on spiny petioles and yellow flowers in spring followed by small round fruits.

In cultivation, it prefers bright sun to partial shade and well-drained soil; it tolerates drought once established and is hardy to about −12°C (10°F), commonly suited to USDA zones 8a–11. Propagation is by seed or suckers; pruning is minimal, with suckers removable to train a single trunk. Uses include specimen plants, barriers, or group accents in landscapes and containers, and it can be grown indoors as a houseplant when kept in bright light.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

6-15 feet

Spread

6-20 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Loamy, well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6.0-8.0, Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, Tolerates a wide range of soil pH

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green, with blue-green to silvery-green tones.

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color change

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow-growing, about 5–6 inches per year (12–15 cm/year).

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division, Cuttings (suckers), Offsets (basal offsets)

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, Derelomus chamaeropsis (weevil)