Howea forsteriana

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Pronunciation: HOW-ee-uh for-stir-ee-ANN-uh


Common Name: Kentia Palm, Paradise Palm

Howea forsteriana is one of the most commonly grown palms in the US, including southern California, where it not only performs very well as a tall specimen plant and canopy palm, but as a excellent indoor palm as well. These are among some of the most versatile palms one can grow in California. These have a unique, lazy, tropical look with their lax leaflets and irregularly green ringed trunks.

Appearance and Biology
  • Habit: Solitary with a crown of 16-26 leaves
  • Height: 40'
  • Trunk: single; 8" in diameter with a flare/foot at the bottom; green with irregular rings
  • Crownshaft: none
  • Spread: 10'-16'
  • Leaf Description: pinnate; with leaflets lax in mature palms, though less so in juveniles; deep green; leaflets lined with several ridges; 6'-10' long; gently arching away from center
  • Petiole/Leaf bases: 2' long, smooth and unarmed; unsplit leaf bases-never retained on trunk
  • Reproduction: monoecious
  • Inflorescence: 3' long, pendulous with several closely spaced branches; white flowers
  • Fruit: 1.5" long, oblong with pointed ends; green to red when ripe
  • Seed:
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temp: 26F
  • Drought Tolerance: moderate
  • Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate to poor
  • Wind Tolerance: moderate
  • Salt Tolerance: low
  • Growth Rate: slow to moderate with age
  • Soil Preference: widely adaptable
  • Light Requirement: full sun to full shade
  • Human Hazards: none
  • Disease or Horticultural Problems: rare cases of 'leaning Howea syndrome'
  • Transplants?: somewhat tolerant as adult; easy as juvenile
  • Indoor?: excellent- possibly the best indoor palm there is
  • Availability: very common, though large plants still quite pricey


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