PalmsNorth.com

I am interested in trying to grow Mediterranean fan palms (Chamaerops humilis). Has anyone tried those in cooler parts of the NW (Tri-Cities, Lewiston/Clarkston, Boise, Yakima, et al)? Also (I guess this might go to anyone), what would be a good site (soil, sun, water, etc.) for them?

I have tried with out success. They don't seem to be very cold hardy. I have had better luck with Trachies and sables, but you might have much better luck then I did.
They like full sun, fast draining soil, and moderate water. Fertilize once in the spring. They grew well for me untill the cold weather came I did notice that roots seemed to fair well after winter, maybe I did not leave them in the ground long enough?

I heard that usually if the roots are not killed, clumping palms will usually come back and put out new pups. The clumping palm then acts like a perennial I guess. I might also try that someday with Phoenix dactylifera... doubt it will work with that but you don't know if you don't try!?

That is what we are all about, we are the ones that try Its a good thing I don't have an interest in going to the moon, because if I did I sure would try to get there no matter how wierd people thought I was. Lucky for me all I want is a few cactus and a palm in my yard

It grows well here in PNW zone 8b.
If kept dry and then protected on those cold nights by wrapping and then the addition of Christmas lights I think it can survive to 0F. Mine survived 16F two years ago without protection and no damage to the fronds. If you check out my website I believe there is a picture or two of it.
You are right though, if you have the clumping kind they tend to be root hardy. Even if they look like the tops are dead they could come back from the roots.

Here in the Southern Gulf Islands C.humilis will grow just fine out in the open and they seem to be just as fool proof as T.fortunei. There are some really big Chamaerops here. The largest I know of is Green mound variety and it is approx. 7'ft. tall and 10'ft wide with fronds from top to bottom. It has never had a blemish on the fronds. There is another in the same garden just as big planted as a 5 gallon 11 years ago. I have at least a dozen of them in my garden. One has seeds I have to pick off and grow. I have two Cerifera as well. They have blue coloured fronds. Below zone 8b out in the open they are marginal but can repsrout from suckers. I've had them freeze in zone 8a unprotected, but all the suckers returned even though the main trunk froze to death. I did have one on my C.humilis featured in the Palm Journal 15 years ago or so and it survived -14.8 C. with only superficial frost burn to the tips of the fronds. I kept that one dry with a plexi glass covering, but no artificial heat. It was a beautiful specimen that I planted in the 1980's. They are one of my favourite palms.I'm going to plant one in town this Spring. I already have a spot picked out. Cheers, Joe

Good info Joe

Hi guys,

In Europe, Chamaerops normally grows along the Mediterranean coastline, mainly in Spain, South France and Italy. However, one can frequently see them even in Madrid! Madrid, being in the heart of Spain, is in the mountains, with pretty cold winters! But remember, the climate is dry and I think that is one of the most important elements of successful overwintering: if kept dry in the dormant season, the Eu. fan palm will not rot away; I agree with all comments stressing this. The other factor is the total heat the plant gets during the vegetation period.

There are some specimens in Hungary which have withstood about - 15 - -16 C degrees. I do not have information on survivals at lower temps - yet.


Regards,
Robert

Erik's chamaerops humilis looked beautiful after his brutal winter...pics posted just a month ago I think.

Maybe he'll chime in here.
Barb

I am trying to find his picks... It would be great to see them. THis palm would be one of my absolute favourites; it is so elegent with is multitrunk appearance. I think there is a blue leaved variety, which might be a bit more winter hardy..

Thanks for your post; it made me go further than I orginally thought I could get!!!!!
Robert

Thanks for your interest.
To save you the trouble, I'm going through my photo albums.
Here are my first two Ch. humilis.
In the foreground in the ground is an inexpensive Ch. humilis I bought from the local Home Depot (a large U.S. chain home improvement store not known for their plant care; e.g., the one I bought this from left dozens of Rhapsis, Washingtonia and Chamearops outdoors in pots all winter this year, with lows to -16oC; all died, of course).
In the back, to the right, is a Ch. humilis "cerifa" I paid good money (US$18?) for from Cistus Nursery. I planted it, dug it up and brought it indoors for its first winter. It succumbed, to transplant shock I think.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yR ... site"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/SyG7_ ... %20fan.JPG" /></a>

That photo (above) was from 2007, in May. Here is the same Ch. humilis in August of 2009, behind Zinnia flowers:
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/W9 ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/Sxr8P ... %20192.jpg" /></a>

This photo from January, 2010, shows how I overwinter it:

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/O5 ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/S1EhY ... GP1065.JPG" /></a>



Basically, I spray it with copper fungicide, pack loose dry hay (stolen from the horse barn) around it, layer burlap (hessian in British) to keep the hay in place, and cover with a large plastic bucket (~80 liter/20 gallon) to keep rain/snow and wind off. When it gets really cold I set bottles or bags of hot tap water on the ground at the base (you can see one peeking out).
Results? nearly complete defoliation. All the spears are intact--no spear pull, ever. However, it takes most of the summer to re-grow the lost foliage.
This winter, I did all of the above plus I also wrapped plumber's heat tape (3'/1 meter) around the trunk and central spear. The results are great. despite a colder-than-usual winter (low -16oC / 3oF) and sustained cold well below 0oc , I lost essentially no leaf tissue. I am hoping for great growth this Summer.

Here is how it looks this week:

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EU ... site"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/S7VBC ... GP1281.JPG" /></a>

I plan to put a Brahea armata I've grown in a pot in the same bed and protect the same way. I think they have similar needs: hot summers, full sun. Dry in winter.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zS ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/S7VAb ... GP1280.JPG" /></a>

A beauty, no question about it! Imagine planting some mediterranean plants around the Chamerops (Lavandula, Santolina, Elscholtzia, Thymus, Opuntia) from which it would grow out! Just like Italy....

Thanks for the pics on the coverage, I'll follow them when having mines...
Take care,
Robert

Erik, while very nice, those aren't the pics I was thinking of.

Or maybe it was a Butia? I thought you had a very good looking and healthy C.humilis overwintered.
(old folk's brains...sorry).

Barb