Cascade Palm

Cascade Palm (Chamaedorea atrovirens) is the palm for the soft, layered look: a clumping habit, arching deep green fronds and a finished size of only about 2m tall by 1.5m wide. It thrives in the shade that defeats most palms, indoors or out, and because it is not toxic to cats or dogs it is one of the safest ways to bring a tropical feel into a home with pets. You may also see it sold as Cat Palm.

Why you'll love it

• Built for shade. Bright indirect light indoors or dappled shade outside suits it perfectly, so it fills the dim corners other plants abandon.
• Pet friendly. Not toxic to cats or dogs, which is rarer than it should be among popular indoor palms.
• A true small space palm. At about 2m it delivers the tropical layer under taller trees or a ceiling without outgrowing the room.
• Handles damp ground. It tolerates wet feet, so the low spot that stays soggy after rain is genuine cascade palm territory.
• Well behaved roots. Non invasive, safe near paths, pools and plumbing.

Where it works best

Indoors. One of the better palms for Australian living rooms: soft, full and tolerant of the light a metre or two back from a window. Keep it away from hot afternoon glass.

Poolside and courtyards. The fronds give that resort layering around a pool, the clump never lifts pavers, and dropped fronds are light work compared with larger palms.

Low screening. Plant 1m apart for a dense screen about head height in a shaded side passage or under an established canopy.

Growing Cascade Palm in Australia

Position and climate. In the tropics and subtropics it grows happily outdoors in shade or morning sun. In warm temperate gardens choose a sheltered spot, because it tolerates only the lightest frost. In cooler parts of the country grow it as an indoor or covered patio plant and it will not know the difference.

Soil. Rich, moisture holding soil with compost dug through. Unusually for a palm it copes with ground that stays damp, though pots still want an open, friable mix.

Water and feed. Keep soil evenly moist through the warm months, and water indoor plants when the top few centimetres dry out. Feed with controlled release fertiliser in spring and midsummer. Browning tips usually mean dry air or missed waterings, not disease.

Pruning. None beyond removing spent fronds at the base. The clump renews itself with fresh stems from the centre.

What to expect when it arrives

Cascade Palm comes in 300mm and 400mm pots as established single plants, and in 140mm, 200mm and 250mm sizes as multi plant packs, the economical way to fill a shaded border or low screen. Bigger pots arrive full and lush; smaller sizes bush out quickly once planted.

Palms travel well, though a bent or marked frond in transit is normal and grows out. Give it a bright, sheltered fortnight to settle before repotting. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• An essential guide to palm varieties
• Browse the full palm range
• More plants safe for pets
• Poolside planting ideas

Common questions

Is Cascade Palm safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. It is not toxic to cats or dogs, which makes it a sensible pick for households where pets sample the greenery. A determined chewer can still shred fronds, so position it with that in mind.

How big does it grow?

About 2m tall and 1.5m wide as a mature clump, indoors or out. It gets fuller rather than taller with age, which is why it suits rooms and courtyards so well.

Can it take full sun?

No. Hot direct sun scorches the fronds yellow. Morning sun is the safe limit outdoors, and bright indirect light is ideal inside.

Will it survive frost?

Only the lightest touch. In frost prone districts keep it in a pot under a verandah or indoors through winter, or give it a warm wall and overhead canopy.