Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Chamaedorea elegans
Parlour Palm
Chamaedorea elegans has been the standard interior palm since the Victorian drawing rooms that gave it its common name. It is a slender understorey species from the rainforests of southern Mexico and Guatemala, rarely exceeding 2 metres, with fine pinnate fronds carried on thin green canes.
Its real distinction is tolerance of low light. It holds good colour in an atrium corner or a shaded court where nearly every other palm thins out and stretches.
Specifications
- Height1 to 2 metres, occasionally to 3 metres
- Width0.6 to 1 metre (crown spread)
- Native toSouthern Mexico and Guatemala
- FoliageFine, arching pinnate fronds in dark green on slender cane-like stems; evergreen
- Growth rateSlow
Conditions
- SoilPrefers moist, humus-rich, free-draining soil or potting media
- LightPartial to deep shade; scorches in direct sun
- WaterModerate; keep evenly moist and never let the rootball dry out
- ClimateThrives in tropical and humid subtropical conditions and in conditioned interiors
Additional Features
- FormClumping cane-like stems with a soft arching crown, well suited to grouped planting
- UsesInterior landscaping in lobbies and atria, shaded courtyards, planters and understorey groups
- SpacingPlant 0.6 to 1 metre apart, or group three to five stems to a container
- Low MaintenanceRemove spent fronds at the base; no trunk work is required
- Pest ResistanceWatch for spider mite and scale in dry conditioned air
- VersatilityUsed equally as a potted specimen, a massed interior groundwork and a shaded outdoor understorey
The Parlour Palm is the reliable answer for interior and deep-shade planting, holding condition where light is the limiting factor.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026