Kentia Palm

Known commonly as the Kentia palm, thatch palm or the palm court palm, they have graced hallways, hotel lobbies and ‘Palm Court’ tea rooms with their gorgeous drooping fronds since Victorian times.

Howea forsteriana provides lush upright growth with minimal care requirements, making it one of our most frequently recommended indoor palms.

Plant biography:

Endemic to Lord Howe Island in Australia, they were identified by Italian naturalist Odoardo Beccari and became popular in the 1870s when seed exports started. Queen Victoria even had them cultivated in all of her homes and, after her death, placed around her coffin while she lay in state.

They have remained one of the most popular palms to keep indoors in the UK, providing a lush tropical appearance whilst being incredibly tough and easy to look after.

Kentia Palms are a perfect first choice for anyone looking to start an indoor palm collection.

Care guide

The mass popularity of Howea forstersiana during the Victorian era was in part due to how well they thrive in low light, low humidity and, importantly for the Victorians, in areas with poor air quality!

When buying a Kentia from us, you’re actually getting several Kentia plants in one pot. It’s often assumed that they’re multi-stemmed plants like Rhapis excelsa, but in their natural habitat Kentia Palms actually grow only a solitary trunk.