Howea forsteriana: Country Or Region Of Origin
Howe Island, near Australia and New Zealand
Plant Profile: Howea forsteriana
Taxonomy: Howea forsterianaNames
Forster Sentry Palm, Kentia Palm, Paradise Palm, Sentry Palm, Thatch Palm
Phonetic Spelling:HOW-ee-ah for-stair-ee-AH-na
Genus:Howea
Species:forsteriana
Family:Arecaceae
This slow-growing palm is a favored houseplant in temperate regions, thriving with minimal light. Known for their resilience, these palms adapt well to container life and can endure low light conditions, dust, central heating, rough treatment, drought, and overall neglect. The Kentia Palm can be positioned near sidewalks, homes, or fences, and its substantial size makes it an excellent centerpiece for both indoor and outdoor settings. While they are occasionally sold in clusters within a single large pot, it’s important to note that this palm does not produce suckers.
Howea forsteriana Feature Summary
Howea forsteriana Image Gallery
Tags
#arching
#evergreen
#small tree
#full sun tolerant
#showy berries
#houseplant
#specimen
#interiorscape
#partial shade tolerant
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats
#container plants
Similar Plants
Howea forsteriana Feature Summary
Attributes
Howe Island, near Australia and New Zealand
Coastal and low elevations
Woody
Flowers
Inflorescence is about 3.5 feet long with flowers on 3-7 spikes, fused at their bases. Both male and female flowers are present in the same inflorescence.
White
Leaves
Leaves are arching, up to 10-12 feet long, with drooping leaflets.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Linear
Entire
> 6 inches
> 6 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Houseplant
Broadleaf Evergreen
Arching
Erect
Slow
Low
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Good Drainage
12-24 feet
Coastal
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Fruit
Green
Red/Burgundy
1-3 inches
Stem
Landscape
Small groups
Specimen
Houseplants
Coastal
Howea forsteriana Image Gallery
Howea forsteriana Attributes
Howea forsteriana: Distribution
Coastal and low elevations
Howea forsteriana: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Howea forsteriana Flowers
Howea forsteriana: Flower Description
Inflorescence is about 3.5 feet long with flowers on 3-7 spikes, fused at their bases. Both male and female flowers are present in the same inflorescence.
Howea forsteriana: Flower Color
White
Howea forsteriana Leaves
Howea forsteriana: Leaf Description
Leaves are arching, up to 10-12 feet long, with drooping leaflets.
Howea forsteriana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Howea forsteriana: Leaf Color
Green
Howea forsteriana: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Howea forsteriana: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Howea forsteriana: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Howea forsteriana: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Howea forsteriana: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Howea forsteriana: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Howea forsteriana Whole Plant Traits
Howea forsteriana: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Howea forsteriana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Howea forsteriana: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Howea forsteriana: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Howea forsteriana: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Howea forsteriana: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Howea forsteriana Cultural Conditions
Howea forsteriana: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Howea forsteriana: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Howea forsteriana: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Howea forsteriana: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Howea forsteriana: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
9b
Howea forsteriana: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Howea forsteriana Fruit
Howea forsteriana: Fruit Color
Green
Red/Burgundy
Howea forsteriana: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Howea forsteriana Stem
Howea forsteriana: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Howea forsteriana Landscape
Howea forsteriana: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Howea forsteriana: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
