Plants
Parlor Palm
Chamaedorea elegans · Arecaceae
The parlour palm has been the definitive indoor palm for over 150 years — it already graced Victorian parlours, hence its English name. It stays compact, grows slowly, copes with little light and is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. When someone asks us for an uncomplicated palm for their flat, it is almost always our first answer.
- Light
- Bright to semi-shade, no direct sun; one of the most shade-tolerant indoor palms.
- Watering
- Evenly and lightly moist; neither let it dry out nor leave it standing in water.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Chamaedorea elegans
What looks like one bushy plant in the pot is in truth usually ten to twenty seedlings grown together — that is how the dense, feathery tuft comes about. Grown singly, the parlour palm forms a slender, bamboo-like stem and rarely exceeds 100 to 130 centimetres indoors.
Its origins in shady understorey make it the ideal palm for dimmer flats: a bright to semi-shaded spot without direct sun is entirely sufficient. Harsh midday sun bleaches the fine pinnate leaves and leaves yellow patches — the classic mistake when the plant summers on a south-facing balcony.
It likes even watering: the root ball should stay lightly moist, may dry at the surface, but must never dry out for days and never stand in water. Brown leaf tips are almost always caused by dry heated air or irregular watering — occasional misting noticeably helps.
Even young parlour palms push up yellowish, panicle-like flower stalks in spring — a pretty bonus indoors, but one that costs energy. We usually cut the panicles out at the base so the energy flows into new foliage. In home conditions they practically never set seed.
Its most frequent uninvited guest is spider mites in dry winter air. Fine webbing in the leaf axils is the warning sign: shower the plant thoroughly, raise the humidity and treat repeatedly if needed. A well-humidified parlour palm is usually left alone.
Is Parlor Palm toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
The parlour palm is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and people, making it one of the best palms for pet households. Cats love to nibble the fronds — that does not harm the cat, though it does spoil the palm's looks.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Bright to semi-shaded spot without direct sun — a north-facing window works too.
- 02Keep the root ball evenly, lightly moist; let it dry briefly but never completely.
- 03Avoid waterlogging — leave no water standing in the cachepot after watering.
- 04Mist or shower regularly: it prevents brown tips and spider mites.
- 05Feed lightly once a month from spring to autumn, not at all in winter.
- 06Repot only every two to three years — parlour palms like snug pots.
Frequently asked
- Is the parlour palm toxic to cats?
- No. The parlour palm is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs and is one of our standard recommendations for pet households. Even if the cat nibbles the fronds, at worst the plant fibres cause mild stomach upset — nothing about it is poisonous.
- Why is my parlour palm getting brown tips?
- Brown leaf tips are the most common parlour palm issue and almost always a matter of humidity or watering rhythm: dry heated air, forgotten watering or hard water. Regular misting and even moisture help. The brown tips themselves can be trimmed with scissors — leave a narrow dry margin when cutting.
- How big does a parlour palm get?
- Indoors it stays pleasantly compact at 100 to 130 centimetres and grows remarkably slowly — only a few new fronds per year. That is exactly what makes it so flat-friendly: it outgrows neither shelf nor windowsill and never needs radical cutting back.
- Can I put the parlour palm outside in summer?
- Yes, in a warm, wind-sheltered spot in shade or semi-shade — never in full sun, or the fronds will scorch. As soon as nights drop below about 13 degrees, it should come back indoors. A summer outdoors visibly strengthens the plant.