Chamaedorea
( kam - ih - DOHR - ee - uh )
At-A-Glance InformationThis perennial genus of palms needs some shade or bright indirect light and regular water to perform well. They are smaller, feather palms that are considered easy-care plants and do great on shaded patios or compact landscapes. Native to Central and South America, they can be single-trunked or have a cluster of multiple trunks. These palms rarely produce yellow to reddish fragrant flowers from spring through fall that have a smell similar to an herbal soap. These palms are safe to keep indoors around pets and children, and have no toxic effects if ingested.
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Chamaedorea Species and Varietals
The genus Chamaedorea includes 107 species of palms, and is a member of the plant family Arecaceae. The genus name is derived from the ancient Greek words for 'on the ground' (chamai) and 'gift' (dorea), referencing the ease of which the plants' fruits are accessed and harvested. Chamaedorea grows best in zones 16, 17, 22-24 and H2, although this varies somewhat depending on the species; for more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Chamaedorea cataractarum (Cascade Palm, Cat Palm, Cataract Palm) This native of southern Mexico and Central America forms a foliage clump 6 feet tall and 9 feet wide, and does best in moist, partially shaded garden locations. Indoors, plants typically reach about 3.3 feet tall. Provide protection from winds. Great when used as a hedge screen, border plant, container plant or as an indoor specimen. Hardy down to 40.1 degrees Fahrenheit. |
Chamaedorea costaricana (Cluster Palm, Pacaya) Forms a clumping plat 8-10 feet tall and wide; will form colonies with short horizontal stems topped with ferny foliage. Leaves are lacy and green, and average between 3 and 6 feet in length. Outdoors, these plants prefer humid and shaded but warm locations. Great for containers if given enough room to grow; indoors, these plants need bright, indirect light. |
Chamaedorea elegans (Parlor Palm, Neanthe Bella Palm) This species of small palm reaches 6-10 feet tall and 3-6 feet wide outdoors, though this species does well indoors as well where it slowly grows to reach 3-4 feet tall (hence the common name, Parlor Palm). These plants grow from rhizome, and are intolerant of frost conditions. Native to the rainforests of Guatemala and southern Mexico. Flowers are small, light yellow, yellow or orange red, and fragrant. Pea-sized berries follow blooms. |
Quick Question: What is Xate? Xate (pronounced shatay), are the fronds from three species of palm, including Chamaedorea ernesti-augusti, Chamedorea elegans, and Chamaedorea oblongata. Xate is commonly used in floral arrangements; an estimated 400 million leafy stems are exported from Guatemala and Belize to North America and Europe each year. |
Chamaedorea ernesti-augusti This unique species produces flattened, wider foliage than others in the genus, and is widely cultivated as a houseplant. The species was first described in 1852 by Hermann Wendland. Hardy to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Maximum height is just 6 feet tall, making these plants perfect as patio trees that are brought inside during the cooler months of the year. These trees prefer great air circulation. |
Chamaedorea microspadix (Hardy Bamboo Palm) This species, native to eastern Mexico, is remarkably cold-hardy for a palm, enduring temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. These plants form clumps of canes topped with palm fronds, and produces showy red fruits that appear after cream-colored flowers fade. These plants will reach between 4 and 6 feet tall when grown in containers or as indoor plants, typically reaching between 8 and 10 feet tall outdoors. Low maintenance. |
Chamaedorea seifrizii (Bamboo Palm, Parlor Palm, Reed Palm) This species forms a clump 8-10 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide with stems that are a bit vine-like when plants are mature. Leaflets are narrow and green. These palms are commonly kept as houseplants, and are used as hedging plants in warmer climate areas of the United States. This species is named for botanist William Seifriz. |
Caring for and pruning chamaedorea Trees
Chamaedorea palms are often grown as indoor plants, but can thrive outdoors in the right conditions. Plant these palsm in partial to full shade outdoors. These are naturally understory plants, and do best with filtered light. Avoid direct sunlight, especially in the late afternoon hours, as this exposure can burn leaves. If planting outdoors as a hedge or privacy screening, space plants 3 to 6 feet apart. Ensure that soil in the planting area is well-draining. If it is heavy, consider amending with organic material before tree installation. These trees tolerate a wide range of soil types, and prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil (with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0). Apply a layer of mulch around the base of these trees to increase soil moisture retention and suppress weed growth. Provide consistent moisture to these palms, but ensure that soil is not becoming waterlogged. During the rainy season, reduce waterings. To prune these plants, simply remove damaged, diseased, or dead growth or any yellowing fronds at the base of the plant to keep a tidy appearance in springtime or early summer. These trees require very little pruning, and perform best when left to their own devices. Avoid over-pruning, as this can stress the plant out. In areas where winters are mild, these trees can stay outdoors year round. In areas that drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months, these trees will need to be grown in a greenhouse or grown in a container that is brought into a protected area over the cooler periods of the year.
Caring for Chamaedorea Indoors
Chamaedorea species are commonly grown indoors as houseplants due to their tropical outdoor growing requirements. They are considered easy to care for, and are able to thrive in even low light conditions. Ideally, these palms should be situated in spot in the home that receives bright-indirect light but is shaded during the late afternoon hours when the sunlight is strongest. Avoid placing these plants in direct sunlight, as this exposure can scorch leaves. Use a well-draining potting mix made specifically for palms or other houseplants. If drainage is poor, amend soil with perlite or sand; avoid dense, water-retentive soils as they will lead to root rot issues. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy; this translates to waterings about every week or two. Avoid overwatering, and empty water catchment saucers regularly. In wintertime, reduce watering slightly. These palms prefer moderate to high humidity, and regular misting or using a humidifier nearby can go a long way in keeping them looking healthy and performing well. Fertilize once a month during the spring and summer months to support new growth, and reduce feedings to every 6-8 weeks in the fall and winter. Take care not to over-fertilize, as this may cause leaf burn and salt buildup in the soil. Repot Chamaedorea plants every 2-3 years, or when roots begin to poke out of drainage holes.
Caring for Chamaedorea Indoors
Chamaedorea species are commonly grown indoors as houseplants due to their tropical outdoor growing requirements. They are considered easy to care for, and are able to thrive in even low light conditions. Ideally, these palms should be situated in spot in the home that receives bright-indirect light but is shaded during the late afternoon hours when the sunlight is strongest. Avoid placing these plants in direct sunlight, as this exposure can scorch leaves. Use a well-draining potting mix made specifically for palms or other houseplants. If drainage is poor, amend soil with perlite or sand; avoid dense, water-retentive soils as they will lead to root rot issues. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy; this translates to waterings about every week or two. Avoid overwatering, and empty water catchment saucers regularly. In wintertime, reduce watering slightly. These palms prefer moderate to high humidity, and regular misting or using a humidifier nearby can go a long way in keeping them looking healthy and performing well. Fertilize once a month during the spring and summer months to support new growth, and reduce feedings to every 6-8 weeks in the fall and winter. Take care not to over-fertilize, as this may cause leaf burn and salt buildup in the soil. Repot Chamaedorea plants every 2-3 years, or when roots begin to poke out of drainage holes.
Propagation
Chamaedorea can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your palm, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Chamaedorea by Seed
Propagating Chamaedorea by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost, gloves and other protective wear (to prevent skin contact) and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in spring, and in some cases needs to be done every three to four years for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
Propagating Chamaedorea by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seeds of Chamaedorea plants contained inside of the fruits produced by the palms. Once they have blackened and begun to drop from the tree in autumn, you can harvest the fruits. These fruits, because their skin is so thin, do not necessarily need to have their flesh removed before being sown.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 6-9 months from sowing (or longer). Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Propagating Chamaedorea by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost, gloves and other protective wear (to prevent skin contact) and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in spring, and in some cases needs to be done every three to four years for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
- Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the roots. Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
- Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section.
- Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divided palms and water thoroughly.
- Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout.
Problems and Pests
Although these trees are relatively free of pests and diseases, they do sometimes suffer from issues with the following:
- Spider Mites
- Scale
- Aphids
- Mealybugs
- Root Rot
Gallery
Videos
All about growing Cat Palms outdoors.
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Need help deciding? Watch this video for more information.
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How to care for a Neanthe Bella Palm indoors.
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Indoor plant care tips for these palms.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 235, Chamaedorea
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