Chamaerops humilis 'Vulcano'

Dwarf Mediterranean Palm

from £24.50

5 / 5 based on 2 customer reviews

Description Plant Care Q & A Suggested Sundries Alternatives Description

Chamaerops humilis 'Vulcano' was discovered growing on the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily and is remarkable for it's tight compact habit and really tough rounded leaves creating wonderfully architectural roseates of foliage. Closely related to regular Mediterranean Fan Palm it is just as, if not more resistant to coastal wind than other palms. Best planted in a sunny position where it is happy in most soils though avoid waterlogged areas. Very happy when grown as a container plant.

As with all palms enjoys a regular feed during the growing season of seaweed fertilizer.

It is tolerant of heavy frosts when sited in full sun and free-draining soil and will mature into a large, bushy specimen. Will also be quite happy in a conservatory or sun room.

Position: Full sun to part shade tolerant of salt and wind
Soil: All soils, but avoid waterlogged areas drought tolerant once established
Eventual Size: Up to 3 metres tall, about 2 metres wide
Habit: Multi-stemmed dense, bushy growth
Foliage: Evergreen
Common Names: Dwarf Mediterranean Fan Palm

Other Chamaerops: Chamaerops humilis Chamaerops humilis cerifera

Other: Palm Trees

Eventual Size of Chamaerops humilis 'Vulcano'

Eventual size after 10 years

Plant Care

Chamaerops humilis Care Information

Sun – part-shade, most soils except water logged, great in a container, tolerant of wind and coastal conditions

Chamaerops are tough bushy palms originally the only true palms found in the Mediterranean mainly originating from the Island of Crete. Chamearops cope with full sun, a little shade and are fairly tolerant of windy sites making them great candidates for coastal planting, roof gardens and terraces. In our garden they just about cope with the heavy clay here growing well in the 12 years they’ve been planted. During cold winters, combined with heavy snow the foliage can be damaged but recovery is fairly fast during the summer. For that reason if the forecast is bad and snow is forecast I tend to cover the crowns with. So I’d say best in milder parts of the UK, excellent in urban areas and coastal zones.

There are a few different forms of Chamaerops humilis available such as Chamaerops humilis ‘Cerifera’ or ‘Argentea’ as it’s sometimes called. Originating from the high Atlas Mountains in Morocco Chamaerops humilis ‘Cerifera’ is a dwarf form with superb bluish grey leaves, which I consider to be even hardier than the species. Another is the stunning Chamaerops humilis ‘Vulcano’ discovered growing on the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily with really stiff congested leaves, a mature specimen of ‘Vulcano’ is spectacular. I’d say from experience that Chamaerops humilis ‘Vulcano’ is slightly less hardy.

Question & Answer