Chamaedorea elegans or Neanthe bella Palm commonly called Parlour or Mini-palm originated in Mexico, Central America.
The Parlour or Mini-palm is a small, delicate and shade loving palm. It is one of the neatest and most compact palms used for indoor decoration with short, branching leaves that grow to approximately three feet in height when grown indoors. It is also used in dish and bottle gardens. So if you are looking for a desktop plant, try this palm; it is becoming very popular both in the office and the home. It comes in sizes from 3 inches to 3 feet in height.
A few years ago, my sister did a bottle garden for the annual flower show using this palm as the focal point. It was roughly 5 inches tall, and shared space with Earth stars, Silver lace fern and ground cover. It won the judges’ approval and was awarded the first prize. It was said that it was the first time that gardening friends and visitors had seen this plant grown in a bottle garden. After the show, for weeks people came by to see this showpiece. So why not try doing your own dish or bottle garden using this palm?
The Parlour or Mini-palm has only a few pinnate leaves near the crown. You can grow it as a single palm or as a cluster potted palm. If you are thinking of growing it outdoors, please remember that it has to be under shade. Plant in well-drained potting soil and fertilize with Miracle Gro All Purpose Plant Food once every two weeks. It can be grown from seeds. Small plants are available for sale at nurseries.
Until next week, happy gardening!
