Howea forsteriana
Common Names: kentia palm, sentry palm, thatch palm, paradise palm,
hotel palm, parlor palm
Family: Arecacea/Palmae (palm Family)
Palm Attracts Birds Easy to grow - great for beginners! Tolerant of
Shade and Low Light Conditions Can be Grown in Containers Grows Well
Indoors. Has Ornamental (non-edible) Fruit Has evergreen foliage Has
Unusual or Interesting Foliage Flowers
Description
Kentia palm is highly prized for its elegant fronds and slender
trunk. Kentia palm has a canopy of about three dozen gracefully
drooping leaves which produce an airy and poised look. The leaves
are pinnate (featherlike) and grow up to 12 ft (3.7 m) long with
thornless 4-5 ft (1.2-1.5 m) petioles (leaf stems). The leaflets are
like fingers, 2.5 ft (0.8 m) long and 2 in (5 cm) wide; they bend
downward in a graceful fashion. Kentia palm leaflets are dark green
on top and lighter green on the bottom. The mature spread ranges
from 10-20 ft (3-6 m) across, and the height may range from 15-30 ft
(4.6-9 m), and can reach 60 ft (18.3 m). The trunk is swollen at the
base and has slightly raised annular trunk rings. The kentia palm
produces an inflorescence about 3.5 ft (1.1 m) long which consists
of white flowers on 3-7 spikes which are fused at their bases. Male
and female flowers are produced in the same inflorescence. Mature
fruits are dull red and egg shaped, about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) long.
Location
Kentia palm grows naturally only on the Lord Howe Island group, in
the Tasman sea about 500 mi (804 km) off the eastern coast of New
South Wales, Australia. The climate on Lord Howe Island is
subtropical, warm to cool. Kentia palms grow in extensive colonies
at low to moderate altitudes, less than 2870 ft (875 m) above sea
level.
Culture
Kentia palms tolerate and adapt to a wide variety of soils including
those that are neutral, acidic, clayey and slightly alkaline, but
they perform best in rich loamy soil with excellent drainage. Kentia
palms are traditionally slow growers, however regular fertilization
with palm-grade fertilizer promotes maximum growth. A balanced
(e.g., 18-18-18) slow-release palm fertilizer with minor elements
should be used during the growing season. Magnesium and potassium
nutritional deficiencies have been noted, particularly in older
kentias. Mineral supplements should be administered in recommended
amounts to prevent or treat such deficiencies. Kentia palms in pots
or tubs can be left in the same container for many years due to
their slow growth. Kentia palm can be attacked by spider mites,
scale insects, Cylindrocladium leaf spot, stigmina and other fungal
leaf spots. They are also susceptible to lethal yellowing disease.
Light: Outside kentia palms grow best in 35%-80% of full sunlight,
tolerating direct sun only after about five years old. Young kentia
need protection from direct sunlight and grow best in shady to
partly shady locations. Interior light for optimal growth of Kentia
palm is in the range of 75-150 foot-candles, which is the
approximate illumination level for casual reading. They are
considered exceptional in their ability to withstand low interior
light levels.
Moisture:This palm is only moderately drought tolerant, and should
be watered before the soil completely dries. Indoor, potted kentias
should not be over-watered. They may contract the fungus
Phytophthora, if over-watered. In fact, over watering, and the
associated plant weakening, is considered a number one enemy.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 9B - 11. Considered cold hardy in frostfree
locations. Mature and established specimens can tolerate occasional
temperatures down to 25ºF (-4ºC) without incurring significant
damage to foliage.
Propagation: Propagated by seeds. Kentia palm fruits mature very
slowly, sometimes taking 3-4 years. It is difficult to determine
when fruit and seeds are ripe, since the fruits change color slowly
from dull orange to deep dull red as they mature. Even fresh seeds
germinate erratically, with seedlings appearing as early as two
months after planting and then sporadically over 1-3 years. Seeds
seem to have maximum viability 8-16 weeks after maturing. Bottom
heat and fungicide treatment have been shown to improve germination
rates and seedling survival.
Usage
The kentia palm is at the same time one of the most elegant and one
of the most durable of all indoor palms. They have an awesome track
record for surviving low light, dust, central heating, rough
handling, drought and general neglect. The Kentia palm may win the
all-time award for the most fool-proof indoor palm on the planet!
Due to their fairly large size, Kentia palms are often used as the
major focal point in interior landscapes. In exterior settings,
Kentia palm may be used as a border or foundation plant, in groups,
as a patio tree, or as an accent or specimen planting. Kentia palms
grow very well in coastal areas and are quite wind resistant.
Features
Kentia palm is the most commonly cultivated ornamental palm species
in the world for good reason: it supplies a quintessentially
graceful look inside or out with minimal care. You can decorate and
landscape with the Kentia palm knowing it has adorned some of the
finest mansions, palaces and grand hotels in the world. The Kentia
palm has been a true indoor favorite since Victorian times. In the
upwardly mobile Victorian society, conscious of every twist and turn
of fashion, the lead of the wealthy was eagerly followed. Those were
the days when it was not unusual for a London gentleman to have a
nursery bill of $3,000 for one month! Virtually every Victorian (and
numerous modern homeowners with any pretense to elegance) felt the
need for a Kentia palm.
Kentia palm gets its name from the capital city of Lord Howe
Island, Kentia, and the genus name, Howea, honors the island. The
species name, forsteriana, honors New South Wales Senator Henry
William Forster, who was a key in obtaining woman suffrage for
Australia. Kentia palms are used in their native habitat for thatch. |
