Chamaerops humilis?

[charlie]

Planted out 4 of these about a month ago, fingers crossed they like the hot sunny weather. Mine are not very big as I grew them from seed and basically wanted the space back, the came off a palm labeled Chamaerops humilis var arborea but I can't find much about what the are likely to do (apart from die!) and how they may differ from Chamaerops humilis var humilis?

Any tips for keeping these happy?

[Chrisg]

I've always understood the normal form to be easy and hardy in a lot of places. I just planted mine in the dry bed and let it get on with it. Think I should probably given it a lot more water than I did.

Ade is the person to ask.

[flounder]

arborea(arborescens) should be the type that doesn't produce suckers....just grows a single trunk. Not too sure about from seed though. You'll find out in a couple of years!

[Darran]

We used a very large specimen of 'arborea' in the Hampton Court Stand, as far as I know it performs just as well as any other Chamaerops but only ever develops a single trunk.

[charlie]

I have to say I had not really given Chamaerops much thought, had sown the seed after a holiday then sort of forgot about them, now 3 years on I wanted the space back! but when I spotted some on Tenerife I realized they actually do look rather good

DSC_0080 by charliepridham, on Flickr

DSC_0079Chamaerops humilis by charliepridham, on Flickr

I know there is not much chance of mine doing anything like this in my life time :lol:

[DaveP]

I know there is not much chance of mine doing anything like this in my life time :lol:

Claims of its slow growth are somewhat overstated. A small, 30cms. high plant I bought in 2004 now has a 4ft clear trunk and if I treated it better it would be half as big again. They don't make the same amount of trunk extension per year as Trachycarpus, but growth rates are satisfying nevertheless. I usually buy one or tow each year provided I can find an interesting form - and the seed grown stock that hits the sheds and big g/cs tends to be quite variable so there's usually something worth looking at. Currently, I'm nurturing a seedling of a form occasionally seen in France that has elongated, thin petioles and very slender, drooping leaf blades. It is unofficially known as 'Tenuifrons' but that name has no validity as far as the taxonomists are concerned. It is really quite something and I'm looking forward to it gaining size.
This is a very old plant and possibly now a bit ungainly with its thick trunks, but for the first 50 years you get something rather wonderful :lol: