Chamaerops humilis

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Figure 1. C. humilis

Common Names:

Dwarf Fan Palm,
European Fan Palm,
Mediterranean Fan Palm

Distribution & Habitat:

Rocky headlands and low hills around the Mediterranean coast. Its range extends from Africa's Atlas Mountains in Morocco to Spain and France and eastward to Turkey (see humilis in Sicily).

Description:

A very variable species, usually clumping, however, also occasionally single trunked, to about 3m high. Small, palmate leaves, to about 50cm across, at the end of a heavily spined petiole.

Culture:

Prefers full sun in a very well drained position. Not suited to the true tropics, but will thrive in a sub-tropical climate with a good dry season. One of the most cold tolerant palm species, withstanding even heavy frosts, so it is very popular in Europe, and the USA. Quite slow growing. A very good container plant.

Figure 2. C. humilis leaf close-up.

Figure 3. A very ancient C. humilis in habitat, Morocco.

Contributed by:

Rolf Kyburz (Figure 1&2)
Antonius Verhoeven, Global Palms (Figure 3)

External Links:

Kew, PalmWeb, JSTOR, Trebrown, Wikipedia Images

Google, GoogleImages, Flickr, PalmTalk