Parlour palm
Chamaedorea elegans · also called Neanthe bella palm
Foliage and indoor
- Light
- Part sun, Shade or indoors
- Pot size
- Medium pot (about 5 to 15 litres)
- Care level
- Easy
- Year round or seasonal
- Kept year to year; in a pot, keep it above about 12.8 °C (55 °F)
- Pets
- ASPCA: non-toxic to cats and dogs
Light and position
Bright, indirect light, though it tolerates low light.
Size and pot
NC State lists 2 to 7.5 feet tall; it grows slowly in a pot. Our pot band: medium pot (about 5 to 15 litres).
Watering
Let the soil dry slightly between waterings. NC State calls overwatering a common problem.
Potting mix and feeding
A humus-rich houseplant mix. Feed during the growing season but not in winter; repot about every other year.
Growing through the year
Keep it away from cold draughts near windows, doors and vents.
Winter outdoors
Cold limit in a pot: about 12.8 °C (55 °F). NC State gives no temperature for this plant and lists it only for USDA zones 10a to 12b, the tropical end of the scale. For tropical plants like this we follow NC State’s container chapter: bring tender plants inside once nights drop to 55 °F.
| Your coldest winter nights | What to do |
|---|---|
| Coldest nights 15 °C or warmer | Can stay out through this winter |
| Coldest nights 10 to 15 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 12.8 °C |
| Coldest nights 5 to 10 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 12.8 °C |
| Coldest nights 0 to 5 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 12.8 °C |
| Light frost: nights down to about −5 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 12.8 °C |
| Hard frost: nights below −5 °C | Move it to shelter before nights fall to 12.8 °C |
A plant can stay out only when its limit is below the coldest night in your band; a limit equal to that night counts as needing shelter. A rare cold snap, wind or a wet pot can still damage plants. We convert °F to °C with NIST’s formula.
Watch for
Spider mites and mealybugs; wiping leaves with a damp cloth helps.
Pets and people
ASPCA lists parlor palm as non-toxic to dogs and cats.
General gardening information, not professional advice. Plant toxicity details are a starting point, not veterinary or medical advice: if a pet or child may have eaten a plant, contact a veterinarian or doctor promptly.
Care level: NC State’s maintenance rating (Low). Pot band and summary wording are ours, based on the sources below.