Learn about how parlor palm came to be one of the most popular palms for indoor growing. The Victorians grew parlor palm in their parlours. It was a popular plant back then. Parlor palm continues to be a favorite houseplant. Botanically known as Chamaedorea elegans, the palm tree used to be classified as Neanthe bella.
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Hello and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors. Today’s video is sponsored by our Amazon affiliate link, which you’ll see in the description below. You’ll also see in the description below any links to videos I mentioned in this video.
Okay, so today I’m going to talk to you about the parlor palm. The parlor palm is this beautiful palm tree right here, and this guy was recently repotted, so he’s still a little bit yellowy, but he’s starting to get some really nice interior green growth. This is a plant that likes to be repotted quite a bit. I did a video on repotting him.
The botanical name of this plant is Camerodia elegans. It’s also known as the Niante bella palm in some older classifications, so if you have some older garden books, you’ll find that name for it. It’s commonly called the parlor palm, and this is a species of small palm trees that are native to the rainforests in southern Mexico and Guatemala.
It is very easy to grow indoors and is one of the most heavily sold houseplant palms in the world. I really like the story of how this plant became popular, and that is because it became popular all the way back in Victorian times. This was a plant that was commonly found growing in home parlors, and that’s how it got the name the parlor palm.
You’ll even see it with the English spelling of parlors sometimes too. The parlor was often considered the best room in the house, and it was somewhere where important guests would be entertained during that period of time. So it makes a lot of sense that Victorians would only grow really beautiful palm trees in that parlor, right? Because that was an important place where people would come, and they wanted it to look really nice.
They tend to be pretty fast growers, so if you take really good care of them, they can become really nice tall houseplants to fill in corners and that sort of thing. They don’t need a whole bunch of care, so they are very easy to grow.
They also got famous back in the 1990s when they were put on the top 50 list of plants that clean indoor air. I have a video all about the plants that clean your air and which ones they are in the top 50. They are really good air cleaners as well, so the Victorians may not have known that they were also cleaning their air at the same time. This was pretty important back in those days too, because as far as I know, there was a lot of air pollution at that time, particularly from burning coal for heating.
So, this plant does that as well—it cleans your indoor air besides looking beautiful, getting big, and being easy to grow. You do need to take proper care of it, and I’ll be doing a future video on that. But just so you know, this plant has a story to tell, as I mentioned, you may hear it called Niante bella, which I think is a prettier name. However, it was reclassified years ago to Camerodia elegans, and you may also see “C. elegans,” where the “C” is shorthand for Camerodia.
Okay, so that is it about this beautiful palm tree. Thank you for stopping by today! Please leave any comments about any indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video, and please check the bell if you’d like to be notified when new videos are released.
Frequently Asked Questions about Parlor Palm
What is the botanical name of the parlor palm?
The botanical name of the parlor palm is Camerodia elegans. It is also known as the Niante bella palm in some older classifications.
Where is the parlor palm native to?
The parlor palm is native to the rainforests in southern Mexico and Guatemala.
Why is it called the parlor palm?
It got the name “parlor palm” because it was commonly found growing in home parlors during Victorian times, which were considered the best rooms in the house.
Is the parlor palm easy to care for?
Yes, the parlor palm is very easy to grow indoors and does not require a lot of care. It tends to be a fast grower if taken care of properly.
What are the air-purifying benefits of the parlor palm?
The parlor palm is known for its ability to clean indoor air and was included in the top 50 list of plants that clean the air back in the 1990s.
What should I do if my parlor palm’s leaves turn yellow?
Yellowing leaves can indicate several issues, including improper watering or insufficient light. Ensure you are providing the right amount of water and bright, indirect light.
How often should I repot my parlor palm?
The parlor palm likes to be repotted quite a bit. It is best to monitor its growth and repot when necessary, usually every couple of years.
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