Chamaerops humilis Vulcano - Dwarf Fan Palm

Chamaerops humilis 'Vulcano' (var. vulcano) is a particularly compact variety of dwarf palm, with a very dense habit, well suited to container cultivation or small gardens. Its beautiful palmate, bright grey-green leaves are devoid of spines and arranged in dense fans carried at the top of multiple stems emerging from a trunk covered in fibres. Relatively hardy, it can withstand temperatures as low as -12°C (10.4°F), or even lower in very well-drained soil. It is a drought-resistant and salt-tolerant shrubby perennial plant which will also tolerate poor soils and thrives in a very sunny exposure.

A highly ornamental, slow-growing shrubby plant of the Arecaceae family, Chamaerops humilis 'Vulcano' is native to Mediterranean regions, more precisely to the small island of Vulcano, located north of Sicily. It grows spontaneously in dry habitats, on sandy or rocky soils, by the seaside and at high altitudes, sometimes experiencing snow and cold temperatures in winter. The plant is clumping and produces multiple stems on the same plant, forming an upright, arching, stocky and spreading bush. Its mature dimensions will not exceed 2.5m (8.2ft) in height and 1.50m (4.9ft) in width, even less in pots. The brown 'trunks', are 5cm (9.8in) wide on mature specimens and covered in layers of fibres and leaf scars. The elegant, highly dissected leaves (fronds) composed of small, narrow and stiff segments, are thicker than the species, 20cm (7.9in) in length and radiate from the spine. They are deep green, with greyish highlights. This plant is generally (but not always) dioecious, meaning that male and female individuals are usually separate. The fragrant flowers appear in late spring, in the form of a spadix, surrounded by a spathe 30cm (11.8in) long, containing numerous small beige to yellow flowers, male or female.

This dwarf palm, along with the Trachycarpus fortunei, is one of the easiest to acclimatise. It can be placed alone, not far from a swimming pool for example, with banana trees or yuccas, in an exotic-inspired setting, but this drought-resistant variety will reach its full potential in a dry garden or a large rockery. A bit difficult to associate due to its strong personality, it can be planted in groups of 3 specimens and surrounded by a carpet of thyme, a sowing of Californian poppies, or a bed of Felicia. In a contemporary garden, you could place it above a tide of white pebbles. It will make a magnificent specimen on the terrace or balcony, planted in a carefully chosen large container.