The dwarf palm, botanically named Chamaerops humilis, is an attractive fan palm that is the only one native to mainland Europe. Contrary to its name, it is anything but a dwarf, because it can reach a height of up to 4 m with good care. It rarely leaves it with just one trunk, but usually forms several trunks, so that it offers a dominant appearance. Above the trunk, covered with brown fibres, rises a magnificent crown with dark green 70 cm to 80 cm wide fronds, the petioles of which are covered with sharp thorns. The home of the dwarf palm is the western Mediterranean. In the latitudes here, it is a popular ornamental plant among hobby gardeners, which is preferably cultivated in tubs.
Table of Contents
plant
The Chamaerops humilis loves the sunshine. Therefore, the experienced hobby gardener always chooses a location in full sun, because the palm can even cope well with scorching heat. The palm also accepts a place in the semi-shade, as long as the sun’s rays reach there for at least 3 to 4 hours a day. However, the already slow growth rate is further reduced. Over the years, the dwarf palm becomes increasingly hardy and can withstand temperatures down to -10° Celsius. Therefore, the plant can also be found in garden beds in mild regions, but then needs good protection against frost and snow in winter.
plants in the bucket
The dwarf palm needs a bucket that is as high as possible because its taproot grows vertically downwards. If this fact is considered at an early stage, this saves frequent repotting and the palm tree can develop in peace. The experienced gardener takes some time for the substrate, because it is made up of different components, because the most important property is high permeability. Therefore, conventional peat or potting soil are not suitable and commercially available special soils are quite expensive. The following materials are required:
- high bucket with drainage hole
- good garden soil
- Compost
- Hornspäne
- sharp sand
- Expanded clay, gravel or granules
In the first step, drainage is laid over the drainage hole for excess water. This consists of expanded clay, gravel or lava granules. If there is still some weed or garden fleece left in stock, spread it over the drain so it doesn’t get clogged with the substrate. Then the substrate is mixed from two parts garden soil, one part well-rotted compost, one part sand and a few handfuls of horn shavings. A layer of this substrate is then filled into the bucket.
Depending on the growth height of the dwarf palm, two helping hands are now required, because while they place the palm in the middle of the bucket and hold it vertically, the substrate is distributed around the root ball. A few centimeters up to the upper edge remain free so that nothing spills over when pouring.
Finally, the dwarf palm is well watered until the root ball is completely moistened. The Chamaerops humilis will only leave the bucket again when it is transplanted into a garden bed or when its roots push upwards.
plants in the bed
Planting young dwarf palms straight into the bed is risky, because they only develop their winter hardiness over the years. If the hobby gardener decides to put a Chamaerops humilis in the ground outdoors, the spot should not only be particularly sunny, but also protected from wind and rain, such as on the south wall of the house.
The planting hole is dug so large that it is at least twice as large as the root ball. The soil is filled into a wheelbarrow that is available because it can easily be mixed with the compost, sand and horn shavings in this way. Then the soil is freed from all existing roots and loosened up with the digging fork. When planting in the bed, it makes sense to lay a drainage made of perlite, crushed potsherds or gravel and cover it with a weed fleece to reliably prevent waterlogging.
In the field, knowledgeable hobby gardeners place a support post next to the palm trunk in the ground to give it more stability. Support post and trunk are connected with raffia tape. While working on the dwarf palm, the hobby gardener should think of the sharp thorns that sit on the petioles. After watering, another layer of bark mulch is spread over the planting site.
maintenance
With good care, dwarf palms can become very old. The oldest plant in Padua’s botanical garden is a Chameaerops humilis, which has been cared for there since 1585. This dwarf palm is also called the ‘Goethe palm’ because the poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe mentions it in a writing from 1790. If you pay attention to the following care instructions, you have the best chance of enjoying this exotic plant for many years:
- pour evenly
- Let the top layer of soil dry out a bit
- supply with liquid fertilizer every 14 days
- no pruning required
- remove fully dried leaves
- Check daily for pests
- shower regularly
- water little in winter
- do not fertilize after September
- young dwarf palms belong in the winter quarters
- Outdoor palm trees receive winter protection
Under no circumstances should a pruning be carried out at the top of the palm tree, because this is where the only vegetation point of the entire plant is located. Only leaves that have completely dried up are cut off with a sharp knife so that a residue of 3 cm remains on the trunk.
hibernate
Dwarf palms begin to prepare for hibernation from October. In order for this process to take place effectively, they remain outdoors until the temperatures during the day no longer exceed the freezing point. To protect against night frosts, the planter with the sensitive roots is wrapped in bubble wrap. A styrofoam block as a base does not let ground frost through.
Tub palms move to a bright winter quarters with a maximum temperature of 4° Celsius when it freezes during the day and the temperatures fall below – 5° Celsius at night. If such winter quarters are not available, place the dwarf palm in a sheltered place and pack it in a jute sack or bubble wrap. Chamaerops humilis that are in the bed are also covered at the roots with a thick layer of leaf or bark mulch.
During hibernation, the palm is rarely given a small dose of water. The most important care measure during this time is to examine them with eagle eyes for pests.
When spring is announced and there is no longer any fear of night frosts, the dwarf palm is gradually accustomed to the sun. Plants that are suddenly back in full sunlight often suffer unsightly burns. Therefore, a dwarf palm that bravely braved the harsh winter in the garden bed should be protected from the first rays of the sun with a parasol so that it does not have to endure sunburn either. During the approximately two-week adjustment phase, she receives some sunlight in the morning and afternoon, until you can then completely remove the sunscreen.
diseases and pests
The leading cause of death in dwarf palms is overwatering. They cope much better with a dry spell than with a flood. However, there can be an infestation of spider mites or mealybugs, especially during the winter, due to the dry heating air. Therefore, the palm is checked daily for these pests. If you shower it vigorously at the first sign of the pests, this can already prevent it from spreading. As a precaution, the root ball should be wrapped in plastic foil so that it does not get too much water. Regular spraying with lime-free water also has a preventive effect against pest infestation. In addition, the following biological control agents can help:
soft soap solution
With this remedy, the chances of success are promising if you use it several times in a row. The solution is made from 1 liter of water, 15 ml of pure soft soap and 1 tablespoon of spirit. Spread it on the dwarf palm with a spray bottle.
predatory mites
They are the natural predators of spider mites and you can buy them in specialist shops. You have to apply them to the infested dwarf palm exactly according to the dosage instructions, where they will eat not only the eggs but also the adult mites within a short time. The predatory mites themselves do not harm the plant.
lacewings
The larvae of lacewings are also natural enemies of spider mites and do not spare mealybugs either. Here, too, the information on dosage must be followed exactly, because lacewing larvae are cannibals and will only eat each other if they are released in too large numbers.
Non-toxic pesticides
Specialist shops offer various pesticides that are either based on rapeseed oil or neem oil. They are harmless to people, pets and plants, but with a bit of luck they will eliminate the pests completely.
multiply
In principle, the propagation of the dwarf palm using seeds is possible; however, it can take years, if not decades, for it to develop into a respectable plant. Experts therefore recommend propagation by cuttings. With this method, a ground shoot that already has some roots of its own is taken from the mother plant. This is placed in a pot filled with the substrate, which is also suitable for planting in a bucket. Until the first shoot appears, the cutting is placed in a light location, which, however, must not be exposed to direct sunlight. During this time, only little watering is done, but the soil is only slightly moistened. If the first palm frond grows, this is the sign that the young plant can now be cultivated like an adult Chamaerops humilis.
Desired Varieties
As a plant species, Chamaerops humilis is unique, but there are a few attractive cultivars that are particularly popular:
Vulcano
- Miniature edition of the dwarf palm
- develops a particularly large number of fronds
- hardy to – 10° Celsius
Cerifera
- Rarity with blue leaves
- tolerates frost down to – 13° Celsius
Tropica
- develops many strains
- ideal palm tree for the conservatory
- Cultivation with seeds possible
Other varieties are known to botanists, but are rarely planted by hobby gardeners.
Conclusion
Anyone who observes a few important tips and places them in a sunny location will enjoy Chamaerops humilis for many years. It is the ideal container plant, but can also be planted in beds when it is older. Of the various cultivated forms of the dwarf palm that have succeeded, the Cerifera is particularly exotic with its silvery, shiny, blue palm fronds. Accordingly, you do not necessarily need a ‘green thumb’ to cultivate the dwarf palm in your own garden and thus surround yourself with a touch of holiday feeling.
