How to Grow and Care for Chamaedorea

Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is a palm tree native to Mexico and Guatemala which grows in rainforest environments. Parlor palm is widely cultivated as a houseplant and grows well in light soil out of direct sunlight.

The cat palm resembles a palm tree, but is much smaller. It doesn't have a tree trunk, but rather a collection of green, plumed leaves which issue up from the soil. Each has a distinctive oblong palm shape at its upper end. Given this unusual growth habit, the cat palm rarely reaches heights over 2.5 m.

Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) is an evergreen palm tree that will grow to 2 m tall. It has long, bamboo-like canes and grows in dense clusters. Thrives in light sun to shade and is best when grown indoors. Produces a red fruit that, when handled, can irritate the skin.

Miniature fishtail palm (Chamaedorea metallica) is a small tree sometimes called the metal palm tree. It produces stiff, leathery leaves with a metallic sheen that split like fish or whale tails. The tree rarely grows more than 1 m tall, so it has become a popular houseplant. It needs moistened, but well-drained soil and little other specialized care.

Palm 'Negrita' differs from its parent plant, Chamaedorea elegans, in that it is a dwarf hybrid notable for its deep-colored, almost black leaves. These are far darker than the light green ones of the parent and explain why the plant is named after the Spanish word for black. The plant's small size makes it an excellent choice for container and indoor growth.