Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Stolonifera Palm (Chamaedorea stolonifera)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Stolonifera Palm, Stolon Palm, Running Chamaedorea.

More about stolonifera palm

About Stolonifera Palm

Chamaedorea stolonifera · also called Stolonifera Palm, Stolon Palm · houseplant

Chamaedorea stolonifera is a rare, low-growing understory palm from the rainforests of southern Mexico, uniquely distinguished within the genus by its production of above-ground stolons (runners) that creep along the soil surface and produce new shoots, giving it a ground-covering habit. Its simple, undivided dark green leaves are leathery and elegant, and in a container the twisting stolons create an ornamental, almost sculptural display. It is considered one of the finest of all Chamaedorea species for indoor cultivation due to its low-light tolerance and attractive habit. According to the ASPCA, Chamaedorea palms are non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Cold limit: USDA 10b–11 (indoor in most climates) · RHS H1b (18–28°C (min 10°C))

What stolonifera palm's hardiness rating actually means

Stolonifera Palm is not cold hardy. It is a tropical houseplant that dies if it is left out through frost — there is no zone where it overwinters outdoors in a UK or cold-US climate. Its RHS rating of H1b means: Sub-tropical — a normal warm home is fine, but it cannot go outside in a cool season. On the US scale that maps to USDA 10b–11 (indoor in most climates) — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about 10 °C (sustained cold below this is damaging). Stolonifera Palm has no frost tolerance at all — it is an indoor plant in any climate with a real winter.

Concretely, for stolonifera palm as it gets too cold:

Below about about 10 °C, growth stalls and the leaves start to show cold stress — dark, water-soaked, or yellowing patches.
A single light frost blackens the foliage; a hard freeze kills the whole plant, roots included, and it does not recover.
Even a cold, draughty windowsill or an unheated porch in winter can be enough to damage it permanently.

Can stolonifera palm go outside or overwinter — and where?

It can holiday outdoors in summer once nights are reliably above 10 °C, in shade or dappled light, hardened off gradually.
Bring it back indoors well before the first autumn frost — do not wait for a frost warning, move it when nights drop toward 10-12 °C.
It will never overwinter outside in a temperate climate; the indoors is its winter home, full stop.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when stolonifera palm can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H1b figure above.

Stolonifera Palm hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is stolonifera palm cold hardy?

Stolonifera Palm is not cold hardy. It is a tropical houseplant that dies if it is left out through frost — there is no zone where it overwinters outdoors in a UK or cold-US climate. Indoor-only in almost every home. Stolonifera Palm can only live outside year-round in genuinely frost-free climates (roughly USDA 10b–11 (indoor in most climates)); everywhere else it is a houseplant that summers out at most.

What is the minimum temperature stolonifera palm can survive?

What hardiness zone is stolonifera palm?

Stolonifera Palm is rated USDA 10b–11 (indoor in most climates) and RHS H1b — Sub-tropical — a normal warm home is fine, but it cannot go outside in a cool season.

Can stolonifera palm survive winter outside?

It can holiday outdoors in summer once nights are reliably above 10 °C, in shade or dappled light, hardened off gradually. Bring it back indoors well before the first autumn frost — do not wait for a frost warning, move it when nights drop toward 10-12 °C. It will never overwinter outside in a temperate climate; the indoors is its winter home, full stop.

What happens to stolonifera palm below its minimum temperature?

Below about about 10 °C, growth stalls and the leaves start to show cold stress — dark, water-soaked, or yellowing patches. A single light frost blackens the foliage; a hard freeze kills the whole plant, roots included, and it does not recover. Even a cold, draughty windowsill or an unheated porch in winter can be enough to damage it permanently.