	synonyms	Chamaerops humilis var. argentea
	height	5–12
	width	10–15ft
	tolerates	Cold, Drought, Deer , Heat, Pots, Rooftops, Neglect, Salt, Wind
	water needs	Low
	water info	Not all palms love water! This one is actually drought-tolerant and can live quite happily on little or no water once it’s established, though it’ll grow more slowly and may not look as lush. To keep your palm looking its best, be sure to water it consistently and deeply while it’s getting established, then after a few years give it a good deep soaking every couple of weeks. It will also be happy to have more water, provided the soil drainage is adequate.
	hardy to	5F
	exposure	Part Sun – Full Sun
	indoor outdoor	Outdoor
	drainage	In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil
	fertilizing	Palm Fertilizer
	origin	Morocco
	california native	No
	sunset zones	4–24

OUTDOOR EXPOSURE GUIDE

Full Sun
Six or more hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Shade
Three to five hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Sun
One to two hours of sun beams directly landing on the plants leaves.

Full Shade
The plant is never fully lit by sun beams, but is in a bright spot or has dappled sunbeams playing over the leaves throughout the day.

Deep Shade
The plant never has dappled light on the leaves, and is in a place that feels dim, even on a nice sunny day.

SUNSET ZONES MAP

Growing Notes

Palms are generally heavy feeders, so if you want them growing quickly and looking their best, they should be fertilized at least three times a year. Fertilizing at spring equinox, summer solstice and fall equinox will allow for a winter rest. Be sure to feed your palm with a fertilizer that contains micronutrients, especially if you see yellowing leaves or yellow spots on the leaves. Be sure your palm fertilizer contains micronutrients, particularly magnesium.

Suckering palms like this one send out additional palm trunks from the base of the palm over time, so that you’ll end up with multiple trunks on one palm. If you want a more open form or just fewer trunks, go ahead and thin out the suckers; just be sure to do it when they are young to avoid unsightly scarring later on. Often with C. humilis this will need to be done annually

This palm holds its leaves creating a beard or skirt on the trunk. If you want, you can always prune off the beard for a cleaner look. Generally this palm looks much better with the inner old leaves thinned out to look less cluttered. If fire retardance is a consideration the beard should be removed annually. Take care when pruning as the rachis (leaf stem) are thorned along their entire length. The leaves are easier to prune before they are fully dried when they become tough at a steep angle to the trunk.

Fan palms have leaflets spreading from the tip of the rachis, giving the crown of the palm a rounded full look. They tend to rustle in the breeze, adding a soothing note to the garden.

Special Interest

Our favorite go-to for difficult environments, this tough palm barely notices harsh wind, or inconsistent water. It is physically tough and impervious to getting knocked around. We use this palm for situations where other plants might be destroyed intentionally or unintentionally by late night marauders (its thorned leaves also help deter them), car doors, or general neglect. Wonderful in a pot when it is small, and great as a hedge when it gets bigger. Unlike the typical green med fan the blue selection of Chamaerops humilis stays shrubby, never growing into a medium sized fully trunked garden tree. It is even slower than the typical green form, which is already quite slow growing. This palm is also a bit hardier than the green form.

This is the most northerly growing palm on earth.

Chamaerops humilis ‘Cerifera’

Growing Notes

Special Interest