European fan palm Chamaerops humilis
European fan palm (Chamaerops humilis) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Arecaceae family, native to Western Mediterranean (the only palm native to mainland Europe). It grows 1.5–4 m (4.9–13 ft) tall and 1.5–3 m (4.9–10 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -12 °C (10 °F). Space plants about 2 m (6.6 ft) apart.
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European fan palm at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 1.5–4 m (4.9–13 ft) |
| Mature spread | 1.5–3 m (4.9–10 ft) |
| Spacing | 2 m (6.6 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6–8.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -12 °C (10 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 8) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 45 °C (113 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 4–7 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Western Mediterranean (the only palm native to mainland Europe) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇫🇷 France, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
Is European fan palm toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with European fan palm
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Questions about European fan palm
- How far apart should I plant European fan palm?
- About 2 m (6.6 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1.5–3 m (4.9–10 ft).
- Does European fan palm need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does European fan palm need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is European fan palm?
- It tolerates about -12 °C (10 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 8.
- When does European fan palm flower?
- From about April for 4–7 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is European fan palm poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with European fan palm?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for European fan palm. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Euro+Med PlantBase, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
Notes and assumptions
- Clumping, slow-growing and one of the hardiest palms.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Coconut palm Cocos nucifera
- Date palm Phoenix dactylifera
- Açaí palm Euterpe oleracea
- Mexican fan palm Washingtonia robusta
- African oil palm Elaeis guineensis
- Areca palm (golden cane palm) Dypsis lutescens
- Chilean wine palm Jubaea chilensis
- Joey palm Johannesteijsmannia altifrons