Parlor Palm

The parlor palm earned its name in the dim, heavily curtained sitting rooms of the nineteenth century, where few other plants could survive. It is still one of the most reliable palms you can keep indoors: a neat clump of slender stems, each topped with soft, feathery fronds.

Its botanical name is Chamaedorea elegans. Most parlor palms are sold as several seedlings grown together in one pot, which is what gives them their full, bushy look. Ours are grown the same way.

At a glance

• Light: low to medium indirect light. Direct sun yellows the fronds.
• Water: when the top inch of soil is dry, roughly every week or two.
• Size: about 18 inches tall on arrival, slowly reaching three to four feet indoors.
• Pets: non-toxic to cats and dogs.
• Price: $24 for the 6-inch size.

Light

Most palms want a bright window. This one does not. It grows contentedly a few feet from a north-facing window or in the middle of a room, which is why it sits in our plants for shadier rooms. More light means faster growth, but keep it out of strong direct sun, which bleaches and crisps the fronds.

Watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, then let the pot drain fully. Parlor palms dislike both extremes: soggy soil causes yellowing from the base, and letting the pot dry out completely browns the frond tips. In winter, when growth slows, water a little less often.

Care

There is very little to do. Remove any frond that turns fully brown by cutting it at the base. Brown tips on otherwise healthy fronds usually mean dry air and can be trimmed with clean scissors, following the natural shape. Repot only every two to three years; palms prefer slightly snug roots and resent having them disturbed.

Pets

The parlor palm is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs, and it is one of the easiest choices in our pet-safe collection. Even so, place it where pets will not chew it, and call your vet if a pet seems unwell after eating any plant.