This little gem of a hardy palm adds a new colour dimension to exotic and tropical gardening, with its steel blue grey fan palm foliage. The colour can be variable but is stronger in full sun. Reportedly even hardier than the plain green species, they originate from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, so get extreme cold there and will survive -10C in the UK once established. Very slow growing, so makes an excellent specimen in a large pot for patios and decking, requiring little maintenance in the year. Stock is limited at this price, and is rarely sold in this size, so please order early. Specifications Supplied as 5 year oldplant in 3L pot 40-6-0cm tall Availability: All-year-round Planting time: March to September Top Tips As with the other blue palms the more heat and sunshine it has the bluer it tends to become, so plant it somewhere that gets the most sun. Care Information Planting Advice for your Chamaerops Blue Fan Palm: Pot-grown shrubs can be planted at any time of the year as long as the soil is not waterlogged or frozen. If in doubt, err towards spring but remember to keep pots well-watered so that the soil does not dry out. Grow in any well-drained soil, on the poor side (don’t add extra organic matter) in full sun or light shade. Dig a planting hole 3 x wider than the roots of the palm. We’ve found that a square hole is better than a round one as the new roots, once they reach the edges tend to grow in a circle round the circumference of the hole whereas when they reach the corners of a square hole, they find it easier to grow through. Before planting soak container-grown shrubs thoroughly and allow to drain. Remove the plant from its pot and tease out a few of the roots. Add Mycorrhizal fungi to the roots when planting to help plants establish quicker. Place your shrub in the hole at the same level at the pot. Refill the hole with the earth removed (backfilling) then firm in the soil with your heel, avoiding the root ball and water well. If you live in an area prone to frost, you should consider growing Chamaerops in a pot. Place some old rocks, stones or gravel in the bottom of the pot for drainage and ballast and use the best compost you can buy - we suggest using a soil-based compost, such as John Innes No 2, with extra grit added to improve stability of the post and help drainage. Aftercare Advice for Blue Fan Palm: Needs protection from strong or cold drying winds and will need protection from hard winter frosts by wrapping the leaves. Check plants and repot every two years in spring so that the soil does not become exhausted and stale. Pruning Advice for Chamaerops Fam Palm: Simply cut off the leaves when they turn brown and over time, an upright, woody, fibrous trunk is formed.
