Parlor palm overview
The small, shade-tolerant indoor palm. Native from Mexico to Honduras, a houseplant almost everywhere, USDA 10b to 11 if you try it outdoors.
Region of origin
Mexico to Honduras
Native countries
Historical discovery
Carl Martius published Chamaedorea elegans in 1830. Victorian rooms made it famous.
Names
Common names
Parlor palm, Neanthe bella, Dwarf parlor palm
Synonyms
- Neanthe bella hort.
Cold hardiness
Survives about 35°F / 2°C. Outdoor range USDA 10b–11b. Hover or click a zone, state, or country. Switch the U.S. map between states and hardiness zones.
Highlighted USDA zones 10b–11b. Green countries can be grown outdoors.
United States
In range Too cold
World
Native Can be grown
Alaska and Hawaii are state outlines with their overall zone range. A country is painted if its mildest inhabited winter is at least one USDA step milder than this palm’s hardiness.
Scientific facts
- It is still sold as Neanthe bella, a garden name.
- Low light tolerance is real compared with areca, not compared with a plastic plant. It still wants a window.
- Potted clumps are usually many seedlings in one pot, not one branching palm.
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Full care guide
The parlor palm is the small, Victorian indoor palm that still works in apartments. Native from Mexico to Honduras. Outdoors it wants USDA 10b to 11. Everywhere else it is a pot by a window.
Common Names:
Parlor palm, neanthe bella, dwarf parlor palm.
Scientific Name:
Chamaedorea elegans Mart.
Origin:
Mexico to Honduras, as an understory palm.
Appearance:
A small, slender feather palm, usually sold as a clump of seedlings in one pot. Leaflets are neat, pointed, and deep green. It will not become a street tree.
Growth Rate:
Slow to moderate indoors. Faster in a humid greenhouse.
Max Growth Height:
Often 2 to 4 feet in the house, up to about 6 feet with time. Outdoors in the tropics it can go a bit taller.
Foliage Spread:
A pot clump stays 2 to 4 feet wide if you do not divide it.
Cold Hardiness and Hardiness Zone:
USDA 10b to 11 outdoors. Damage near 35°F (2°C). Treat it as a houseplant in any climate with frost.
Soil Type:
Rich, moist, well-drained potting mix. A little extra drainage helps. Do not bury the crown.
Fruit and Flowering:
Small orange-black fruit on mature plants. Indoor clumps may flower in bright rooms.
Can it Grow Indoors:
Yes. This is the job.
Light Requirements:
Bright indirect, or an east window. It takes lower light than areca. A windowless bathroom is still too dark.
Water Requirements:
Even moisture. Let the top of the mix dry slightly. Soggy saucers rot the fine roots.
Maintenance Level:
Low. Trim brown tips with scissors if you must. Feed in the growing season with palm-specific fertilizer lightly in spring and summer. Dust the leaves.
Common Diseases/Pests:
Spider mites in dry heat, scale, and mealybugs. A sudden bronze look is often mites, not thirst.
Plant Care:
Bright room, even water, no freeze. Keep it away from heater vents. Repot only when the pot is truly packed. It does not want a barrel.
Parlor palm Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Is parlor palm safe for cats?
It is generally treated as non-toxic, unlike sago. Still discourage chewing.
2. Why is my parlor palm yellow?
Overwatering is the usual indoor cause. Then check light and mites. Do not drown it to be kind.
3. Can I plant it outside?
Only in genuine tropical or near-tropical shade. Frost ends the experiment.
4. Is it the same as a bamboo palm?
No. Bamboo palm is usually Chamaedorea seifrizii, a clustering cane palm that gets taller.
If you want a real palm in a normal room, start with parlor palm. Save areca and kentia for brighter spaces and bigger pots.