Kentia Palm – Howea forsteriana

Common Name: Kentia Palm

Botanical Name: Howea forsteriana, HOW-ee-a for-ster-ee-AH-na

Decorative Life: Years.

Availability: Year Round

• Member of the Palmae (palm) family.
• Native to Lord Howe’s Island (Australia) in the South Pacific.
• Common relatives are palms including, coconut, date and oil.

• Plant is classed as a monocotyledon, leaves with mostly parallel veins.
• Fronds (leaves) feather-like at end of stalk.
• Stems are green showing scars of fallen leaves. Can grow to 60 feet but more commonly grown as a stem-less juvenile.

Chill sensitive, store above 50F or higher. For example, can be stored for 28 days at temperatures ranging from 50-66F.

• The specific epithet name forsteriana bears the name of William Forster, Senator, New South Wales.
• Often sold as Kentia Palm.
• Members of this family provide the world with many products including food (coconut and oil), ornamentals, wax, fibers and beverages.
• Will generally grow well in light levels bright enough to read a newspaper in comfort.
• This is a very slow growing species that will do well under indoor conditions as long as leaves are maintained, kept healthy.