Howea forsteriana [multi]

kentia palm, thatch palm
Kentia palm is the classic houseplant palm, elegant, easy to care for, and tolerant of surprisingly low light conditions. Slow-growing, it will remain beautiful in a container for decades.
synonyms Howeia forsteriana
height 3–10ft
width 3–6ft
tolerates Coast, Cool Summers, Fog, Pots, Wind
water
needs		 When soil surface is dry.
water
info		 Kentia palm will want average houseplant watering. Water to fully saturate the soil volume when the surface is dry in small pots, the top inch is dry in medium pots, or the top two inches is dry in large pots.

Keep in touch with the soil of your kentia palm to gauge the rate at which it dries out and establish a cadence for watering. Stick you finger into the soil regularly to check moisture and if possible lift the container to check weight (a proxy for water saturation level).
hardy
to		 29F
exposure Moderate Indirect – Bright Indirect
indoor
outdoor		 Indoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Ground: Planting Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Potting Soil, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing Palm Fertilizer
origin Lord Howe Island, Australia
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 16, 17, 21, 23–H1

Sunset Zones Map

Indoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

Kentia palm make an easygoing houseplant for mid-range lit areas of your home. They tolerate a splash of direct sun deeper in a room or passing sun during the day, but too much direct sun will yellow, or, worse, burn the leaves.
Wipe dust from the leaves every month or so to keep them looking fresh and prevent pests.
The lower the light level it’s grown in, the more care you should take with watering. While it will need less water in low light, it cannot dry out completely. Too much water will rot the plant. If you find lower fronds dying at a fast rate, it may be getting too dry.

Special Interest

The quintessential Victorian-era houseplant looks perfect in spaces ranging from contemporary to historic.

In mild coastal areas of California from Stinson Beach and Bolinas (Marin County) southward, you can place your kentia palm outside in a shady spot in the garden. Some older plants may have started life as a houseplant and been transferred to the garden when they got too big.

More Info

This species was one of the earliest and most popular houseplants in the Victorian era, a favorite of Queen Victoria herself.
Its native home 370 miles east of Australia, Lord Howe Island, is a tiny (~6 square miles), mountainous subtropical island that is also home to three other endemic palm species (Howea belmoreana, Hedyscepe canterburyana, Lepidorrhachis mooreana).
For many years the export of seeds and seedlings of this plant were the mainstay of the island’s economy. Nowadays it’s a popular ecotourism destination and showcase for natural preservation and restoration.