Kentia Palm
Howea forsteriana · Arecaceae
📷 Black Diamond Images · CC BY 2.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around kentia palm and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Howea forsteriana
- Family
- Arecaceae (Palms)
- Foliage
- Evergreen, glossy green
- Adult height
- 2 to 2.5 m indoors
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate
- Hardiness
- Indoor plant (min. 10 °C)
- Origin
- Lord Howe Island (Australia)
- Soil type
- Rich, well-draining potting mix
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Howea forsteriana demands patience: very slow growth for the first two to three years, then it picks up speed. Keep the soil slightly moist, not waterlogged, and the foliage benefits from weekly misting.
The common mistake
Overwatering it because 'it's a tropical palm': despite its origin, excess moisture causes root rot indoors.
The pro's trick
Every 18 months, dust the large fronds with a soft damp cloth: this boosts photosynthesis and helps you spot spider mites or scale insects early.
Care
Watering
Keep the potting mix slightly moist but never waterlogged. Water regularly during the growing season (spring-summer) and space out waterings in autumn-winter. Allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Use room temperature water, preferably filtered or decalcified.
Light exposure
Place your Kentia in indirect light, away from direct sun rays which can scorch the foliage. An east or west-facing position is ideal. It tolerates semi-shaded spots but thrives better with good light levels.
Pruning
Remove yellowed or damaged leaves at the base. Regularly clean the leaflets with a damp cloth to improve photosynthesis and appearance. Don't cut healthy green fronds: Kentia growth is naturally slow.
Fertilising
Feed monthly from April to September with a balanced diluted fertiliser or a foliage plant-specific formula. Reduce or stop feeding in autumn-winter. Follow recommended dosages: excess mineral salts can damage roots.
Soil and repotting
Use rich, organic, well-draining potting mix, ideally supplemented with perlite or clay pellets. Repot every 2 to 3 years in spring if roots emerge from the pot. Ensure excellent drainage to prevent root rot.
Diseases and pests
Watch for spider mites and scale insects which thrive in dry air. Mist the foliage regularly to maintain humidity and prevent infestations. If attacked, isolate the plant and treat with diluted black soap. Avoid standing water which promotes fungal rot.
Did you know?
The Kentia, native to the tiny Lord Howe Island in Australia, was once an exceptional plant reserved for Victorian elites. It graced the drawing rooms of London high society in the 19th century, a symbol of wealth and prestige, before gradually becoming more accessible. Its stately bearing and slender fronds still make it one of the most elegant indoor palms in the world.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring, once all risk of frost has gone. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from April to June.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Dwarf fan palmChamaerops humilis
- Chinese windmill palmTrachycarpus fortunei
- Dwarf palmettoSabal minor
- Mexican fan palmWashingtonia robusta
- Queen palmSyagrus romanzoffiana
- Areca PalmDypsis lutescens
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.