Hooperiana Palm

Hooperiana Palm (Chamaedorea hooperiana) is the clumping shade palm to reach for when a single trunked palm looks too stiff and bamboo would be too much. It reaches about 3m tall and suckers into a clump around 2m across, carrying fine arching fronds on slender green canes. It is pet friendly, low maintenance and equally at home in a pot indoors or a shaded courtyard bed.

Why you'll love it

• It clumps rather than poles up. New canes come from the base, so the screen fills in at eye level instead of only overhead.
• Safe around cats and dogs. It is not toxic to pets, which rules out a lot of the alternatives for a family courtyard.
• Shade is where it wants to be. An understorey palm from Mexico, so filtered light suits it better than open sun.
• Very little upkeep. No trunk cleaning and no seed mess, and it tolerates wind and humidity once settled.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1m apart for a dense screen along a shaded fence or between courtyards. The clump reaches about 2m across, so allow for that at each end.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A 400mm or wider pot holds one for years, and the clump stays narrow enough for a balcony corner.

Indoors. Bright indirect light near a window is ideal. It is one of the better indoor palms precisely because it never wanted direct sun.

Growing Hooperiana Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Filtered light or part shade outdoors, with shelter from harsh afternoon sun. Tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens suit it. It takes light frost only, so in cooler southern gardens keep it in a pot under eaves or grow it inside.

Soil. A free draining mix with plenty of organic matter through it. Mulch 50mm deep to hold moisture, kept clear of the canes.

Water and feed. Keep the root zone consistently moist through the warm months without letting it sit wet, and ease off in winter. A slow release palm fertiliser in early spring and again in mid summer keeps the fronds deep green.

Pruning. Only remove fronds once they have browned off, cutting them at the base of the stem. Never cut a growing tip, since each cane grows from a single point and will not reshoot.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in two sizes, 300mm and 400mm pots. Both are established plants rather than seedlings, usually with several canes already up and one or two suckers coming from the base, so you are buying presence from day one rather than a starter.

Palms are packed upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect a month of settling before new fronds appear, and a slow, steady widening of the clump after that. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the wider palms, ferns and tropical range.
• Compare options in pet friendly indoor plants.
• A guide to palm varieties to help you choose the right form.
• See what else suits a shaded bed in plants for partial shade.

Common questions

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. This palm is not toxic to cats or dogs, so it is a sound choice for a house or courtyard with pets. Chewed fronds still look ragged, so a stand keeps it tidier.

How fast does it grow?

Moderate. Expect a new frond every few weeks in warm weather and fresh canes from the base each season, reaching full height over about five years.

Will it screen a fence?

It will, at 1m spacing in a shaded or filtered light position. It is a soft, open screen rather than a solid wall, so use it to break a sightline rather than block one.

Can it live indoors permanently?

Yes, given bright indirect light and a pot that drains. Turn it every few weeks so it grows evenly, and move it away from air conditioning vents that dry the fronds.