The Australian native palm is one of the most beautiful, elegant, durable and popular indoor plants in the world. The Kentia Palm does not require a lot of care, light, and it is used a lot for indoor and landscapes. Almost all hotels and palaces in the world are decorated with this tree. It is a popular street tree in Australia and New Zealand. It grows in tropical and  warm sub-tropical regions. The Kentia Palm is one of the most elegant Florida Palm Trees.

Additional information:

Scientific name: Howea Forsteriana

Family: Arecaceae

Genus: Howea

Origin:  The plant is native to Australia, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.

Name: It is named Kentia from the Capital of Lord Howe Island-Kentia. The tree is known as the Thatch palm meaning that Lord Howe Islanders used that leaves for thatching their homes.

Growth rate: It is a slow-growing plant but eventually can reach a height of 50 feet.

Trunk: The trunk is thick, ringed, dark green in color, resembles the Bamboo and doesn’t have a crownshaft. The trunk turns brown when ages and exposed to the sun.

Leaves: There are about 35 palmate green leaves on the tree.

Indoor/Outdoor Use: Both

Maintenance: Easy to Moderate

Light exposure: The Kentia palm prefers indirect low light and shade.

Water requirements: It should be watered regulary.

Drought toleration: The palm is drought tolerant.

Cold toleration: It is cold hardy tree, tolerant to freeze.

Flowers: Female and male white flowers are produced in the same inflorescence. They come below the leaves.

Fruits: The fruits are green, oval-shaped, about 2 inch in diameter. They turn brown-red when ripe. It takes 5-10 years before this plant can produce first seeds.

Propagation: The Kentia palm is propagated by seed.

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