Parlour Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

What is a Parlour Palm?

Parlour Palm is a small tropical palm known botanically as Chamaedorea elegans.

It's recognised by its slender stems and delicate, feathery green fronds.

It's one of the most popular indoor palms because of its manageable size and easy care.

Why is it called Parlour Palm?

The name comes from its popularity in Victorian homes, where it was often displayed in parlours.

Its tolerance of indirect light made it well suited to indoor rooms.

It has remained a houseplant favourite ever since.

Is Parlour Palm easy to care for?

Yes. It's one of the more forgiving indoor palms.

It appreciates indirect light, warmth, good drainage and watering once the upper compost begins to dry.

It also grows slowly, so frequent repotting isn't necessary.

Is Parlour Palm suitable for beginners?

Absolutely. Its slow growth and tolerance of some shade make it a useful choice for beginners.

The main things to avoid are strong direct sunshine and keeping the compost constantly wet.

How much light does Parlour Palm need?

Bright indirect light is ideal.

An east or north facing window can work well, depending on the room.

Avoid strong direct summer sunshine, which can scorch the delicate fronds.

Can Parlour Palm grow in low light?

It tolerates lower light better than many other palms.

However, low light doesn't mean no light. Very dark positions can still cause weak growth and yellowing foliage.

A bright position without direct sunshine remains preferable.

Can Parlour Palm tolerate direct sunlight?

Gentle early morning sunshine may be tolerated, but strong direct sunlight can scorch the leaves.

A plant grown indoors should not suddenly be moved into full sunshine.

Filtered natural light is usually the safer choice.

How often should I water Parlour Palm?

Water when the upper few centimetres of compost have dried.

Give the plant a thorough drink and allow excess moisture to drain.

Watering frequency changes with the season, pot size and growing conditions.

Should Parlour Palm compost dry out completely?

It's best not to let the entire root ball become severely dry on a regular basis.

However, the compost shouldn't stay constantly wet either.

Allow the upper layer to dry before watering again.

Why are my Parlour Palm leaf tips turning brown?

Brown tips can result from dry air, inconsistent watering or mineral buildup from hard tap water.

Check whether the palm is close to a radiator or receiving very hard water.

Improving the conditions may help prevent damage to future growth.

Can I cut off the brown leaf tips?

Yes. Carefully trim completely dry brown tips with clean scissors.

Follow the natural shape of the leaflet, leaving as much healthy green tissue as possible.

The trimmed areas won't grow back, but the remaining frond can stay healthy.

Why are the leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing can result from overwatering, insufficient light, damaged roots or natural ageing.

An occasional older frond declining isn't unusual.

If several fronds yellow together, check the compost and roots.

Why are my Parlour Palm leaves drooping?

The fronds naturally arch outwards, so some downward growth is normal.

Sudden wilting, however, may indicate dry compost, root damage or temperature stress.

Check the growing conditions before watering again.

Why are my Parlour Palm leaves curling?

Curling can occur when moisture levels or temperatures aren't suitable.

Check the compost and whether the palm is exposed to strong heat or dry air.

Also inspect the foliage for pests if the curling affects new growth.

Why is my Parlour Palm turning brown?

An older frond may naturally decline, but widespread browning can indicate watering problems, direct sunshine or unsuitable water quality.

Check whether the damage is dry and crispy or accompanied by soft, unhealthy stems.

The cause determines the best treatment.

How quickly does Parlour Palm grow?

It's a naturally slow growing palm.

New fronds may appear during warmer months, but noticeable increases in height can take considerable time.

Slow growth doesn't necessarily mean the plant is unhappy.

How big does Parlour Palm grow indoors?

Most commonly sold indoor specimens are around 30 to 60cm tall, although established plants can become considerably larger.

The RHS lists an eventual height of approximately 150 to 250cm under favourable conditions.

It can take many years to reach that size.

Will my Parlour Palm become bushier?

Many nursery pots contain several individual palms planted together, creating a fuller appearance.

Each stem can produce additional fronds from its growing point as it develops.

Unlike a branching houseplant, cutting a stem won't make that palm branch out.

Can I separate the stems in my Parlour Palm?

Sometimes, if the pot contains several individual plants with separate roots.

However, separating them can cause significant root disturbance.

Unless there's a good reason to divide the pot, it's usually better to leave a healthy group together.

Can I propagate Parlour Palm from cuttings?

No. Parlour Palm cannot be propagated from ordinary stem or leaf cuttings.

The species is normally grown from seed.

Existing nursery groups can sometimes be separated, but this doesn't create new palms from cut stems.

Does Parlour Palm produce flowers?

Yes. Mature plants can produce small yellow flowers on branching flower stalks.

It's one of the indoor palms that may occasionally flower even at a relatively modest size.

Flowering depends on the plant's maturity and growing conditions.

What are the small yellow balls on my Parlour Palm?

They may be developing flowers or flower buds.

Parlour Palm produces small yellow blooms on branching stalks, which can look quite unusual among the green fronds.

If the structures appear healthy, there's usually no reason to remove them.

What compost is best for Parlour Palm?

A light, freely draining, peat free compost with a slightly acidic to neutral pH works well.

Adding perlite can improve drainage and airflow.

Avoid dense growing mixes that remain waterlogged.

When should I repot Parlour Palm?

Repot when the roots become crowded or the growing mix has deteriorated.

Spring is a good time.

Choose a container only slightly larger than the original, as Parlour Palms generally don't need frequent repotting.

Is Parlour Palm safe for cats, dogs and children?

Yes. Chamaedorea elegans is classified as non toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA.

However, chewing plant material may still cause an upset stomach.

Keep pots secure and discourage pets and children from eating the foliage.