Parlor Palm
Chamaedorea elegans
Family Arecaceae
The palm the Victorians kept in gaslit parlors — and parlor palm still earns its living the same way, unfurling soft, feathery fronds in rooms too dim for nearly any other palm. It brings genuine tropical texture to a north window without demanding a greenhouse in return.
A hundred and fifty years of popularity is its own review: slow, tidy, pet-safe, and content between two and four feet, it never bullies a room or a schedule. If a corner of your home has defeated other plants, this is the one to send in.
Low to medium indirect — a true LOW-LIGHT palm
Moderate water
Slow growth
None winter chill
From the print shop
Growing parlor palm? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries parlor palm — Chamaedorea elegans, print Nº 346, “Parlor Palm.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what parlor palm actually needs.
Hardy inZones 10-12Parlor Palm · Common problems
Common parlor palm problems
Pests
4 problems on file
- Spider Mites (dry air)
- Scale
- Mealybugs
- Root Mealybugs
Diseases
2 problems on file
- Root Rot
- Tip burn
Parlor Palm · Growing & propagation
Growing parlor palm
- Light
- Low to medium indirect
A true LOW-LIGHT palm
- Water
- Moderate
Dry the top inch; sensitive to overwatering
Soil- Well-drained mix · pH 6.0 - 7.0
Fertilizer- 2-3x a year, lightly
Pruning- Rarely
Remove browned fronds at the base; never cut the growing tip (palms don't branch).
Spacing- Several stems per pot
How to plant & propagate parlor palm
- Propagate
- Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups
Parlor Palm · Seasonal care & spray guidance
The parlor palm growing playbook
When to spray parlor palm
Growing season. Mist or pebble-tray in dry winters for mites.
Parlor Palm · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Parlor Palm · Yearly calendar
The parlor palm year, month by month
No fixed season calendar for parlor palm — its care follows conditions, not the calendar.
Parlor Palm · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Chamaedorea elegans
Parlor Palm in the garden system
- Moisture
- Facultative / average
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
Origin- Introduced
What parlor palm is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxicSafe for pets
Use- Low-light palm
- Use
- Pet-safe
- Use
- Tabletop
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Parlor Palm · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a parlor palm variety
Species — usually sold as a clump of seedlings
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Parlor Palm
Chamaedorea elegans
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Chamaedorea elegans
- Plant family
- Arecaceae
- Growth habit
- Houseplant · Perennial
- Origin
- Introduced
- USDA plant symbol
- CHEL5
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
for Parlor Palm
Research from these sources
Publisher marks identify sources, not sponsorship or endorsement.
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Questions
Parlor Palm questions, answered straight.
Is parlor palm safe for kids and pets?
Parlor Palm is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. One caveat on this one: Safe for pets. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate parlor palm?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
Elsewhere
Where parlor palm sits in the library.
Monstera
Golden Pothos
Snake Plant
Heartleaf Philodendron