Neanthe Bella Palm: Overview

The Neanthe Bella Palm (Chamaedorea elegans), one of the most popular indoor palm trees, has dense, lush green fronds growing on arched, cane-like stems. It also produces clusters of tiny yellow flowers on long, branched stems. The Parlor Palm, a common name for the Neanthe Bella Palm, is compact, reaching about 2 ft. tall indoors or a maximum of 6 ft. tall when grown outdoors.  

Native to Mexico and Guatemala, this tropical plant grows well in hardiness zones 10-12. Part of the Arecaceae family, which also includes the Coconut Palm and the Date Palm, the Neanthe Bella is a relatively slow grower, living for several decades and reaching maturity after 1-2 years. Not as sun-loving as some other palm trees, the Chamaedorea Palm thrives in medium indirect light and can even tolerate low-light conditions. It’s an easy-care plant that is also non-toxic for pets. 

In Feng Shui, the Neanthe Bella Palm is a good-luck plant associated with growth, peace, and resilience. 

Other exotic palm trees, Lively Root offers, include the sturdy Pygmy Date Palm and the quirky Ponytail Palm Tree.

Chamaedorea Elegans: Alternative Names

• Parlor Palm
• Bamboo Palm
• Good Luck Palm
• Victorian Parlor Palm

Parlor Palm: Benefits

• With elegant tropical foliage
• Excellent indoor air purifier
• Considered a lucky plant in Feng Shui
• Easy to care for plant, suitable for people with busy schedules
• Drought-tolerant and adapts well to low-light
• Pet-friendly palm

Parlor Palm: Care Guide

Neanthe Bella Palm care is easy and rewarding. This large plant can grow both indoors and outdoors in warmer climates. Here are some top tips for proper Neanthe Bella Palm indoor care:

Watering and Humidity

Knowing how to care for a Parlor Palm includes determining how much water it needs. Parlor Palms prefer interchanging periods of moist and dry soil conditions. Water your palm well, and then let the water drain. Then, wait for the soil to dry thoroughly before watering again.

Your Parlor Palm plant will appreciate some additional humidity that you can provide by misting it occasionally or placing your palm’s pot on a pebble tray.

Light and Temperature

One of the Chamaedorea Elegans benefits is that this palm is very flexible, growing well even in low light. You can meet your Parlor Palm light requirements with medium indirect light and protection from direct sun rays. Keep it in partial shade if you’re growing it as a porch plant,

The Palm Neanthe Bella thrives in warmer temperatures between 68℉ and 80℉. Please protect it from cold drafts, which can stunt its growth, and bring your palm indoors when night temperatures drop below 50°F.

Soil, Feeding, and Repotting

For the best Chamaedorea elegans care, use well-draining, nutrient-rich soil mixed with some perlite for enhanced drainage. Feed your Parlor Palm with a slow-release fertilizer during spring and summer. Stop fertilizing in winter when your plant is in its dormant phase.

Parlor Palms prefer to be slightly rootbound, so don’t repot immediately. Please wait until you see roots growing from the pot’s drainage holes, then repot it in a 2-inch larger container.

Propagation

You can propagate a large Parlor Palm via division. Slowly and carefully tease the root clump apart until you get several separate sections. Each new plant should have several stalks with healthy leaves attached and a healthy root system. Transplant your new palm trees into pots filled with well-draining soil and water well, misting occasionally to keep the humidity high.

Pruning, Cleaning, and Common Issues

Depending on the size of your Neanthe Bella, you may need to trim some fronds to keep it looking neat and compact. You mostly only need to prune dry or damaged leaves. Clean the dust off your palm’s leaves by placing them in a sink or bathtub and giving them a shower.

Some Parlor Palm problems to watch out for are browning leaf tips due to underwatering or low humidity, overwatering (signaled by yellowing leaves and an unpleasant smell from the soil), and pests, like mealybugs, spider mites, or scale insects.

Neanthe Bella: Placement, Companion & Alternative Plants

The elegant, feathery foliage of the Parlor Palm will add a lush, tropical flair to your interior or porch, making it a popular statement plant in various settings.

Best Locations & Uses

• Perfect palm for plant lovers with pets
• Ideal for beginner indoor gardeners
• Great easy-care office or bedroom plant
• Wonderful, mood-lifting gift plant
• It is a lovely plant for partially shaded porches in warmer climates

Companion Plants

Placing your Chamaedorea Neanthe Bella together with other plants will not only create a visually stunning display but also help with raising humidity around your plants.

• Split Leaf Philodendron (Monstera deliciosa): The low-maintenance, air-filtering Split Leaf Philodendron boasts uniquely fenestrated leaves that add to the aesthetics of your indoor greenery.
• English Ivy Plant (Hedera helix): Suitable for low-light spaces, the English Ivy is the ideal hanging plant with beautiful trailing stems embellished by glossy, dark green leaves.
• Marble Queen Pothos (Epipremnum aureum 'Marble Queen'): A striking, speckled variety, the cascading Marble Queen Pothos is easy to grow and amazingly adaptable.

Alternative Plants

If you’re looking for a larger indoor palm tree, here are some beautifully tropical choices to consider:

• Areca Palm Indoor Tree (Dypsis lutescens): The beautiful Areca Palm has elegantly arched fronds growing from the base of the plant, visually resembling bamboo, that eventually can reach an impressive 10 ft. in height.
• Cat Palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum): Pet-friendly and easy to care for, the humidity-loving Cat Palm is the perfect tropical palm with abundant, lush, dark green foliage.
• Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa): A perfect indoor and outdoor palm, the Lady Palm has large, sophisticated, fan-like fronds and enjoys medium humidity and plenty of bright, indirect light.  

Make Our Parlor Palm a Statement Plant in Your Home 

Get the elegant Parlor Palm for sale to bring a relaxed, exotic atmosphere into your office or living space!