Chamaerops humilis
Common name
European fan palm or Mediterranean dwarf palm
Family
Arecaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Monocotyledons
Conservation status
Not applicable
Brief description
A clumping fan palm with trunk to 4 m tall.
Distribution
Self-establishing in vicinity of mature, fruiting planted specimens.
Similar taxa
Trachycarpus spp. Chamaerops is closely related to the Asian genus Trachycarpus, differing in the spined (not smooth) petioles and the multi-stemmed, clustering habit.
Flower colours
Cream, Yellow
Year naturalised
First recorded 2018 in NZ
Origin
Mediterranean
Reason for introduction
Ornamental
Etymology
humilis: Lowest, dwarf, small, slight