Howea
( HOW - ee - uh )
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At-A-Glance InformationThis small genus of palms needs partial shade (or bright indirect light if grown indoors) and regular water to perform well. These trees are commonly called Kentia Palms, and are slow-growing, tropical additions to gardens. They are native to Australia's Lord Howe Island (hence the botanical name Howea), and are commonly grown as houseplants. Outdoors, they are picturesque feather palms with clean, green trunks ringed with leaf scars. They can also be grown in pots outdoors, if desired, to add a tropical feel to patios, walkways, and pool areas. Plant Kentia Palms along driveways or entrances, to add a tropical look to pool or patio areas, or as part of a mixed bed or border.
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howea Species and Varietals
The genus Howea includes just two species, and is a member of the plant family Arecaceae. Kentia Palms grow best in zones 17, 21-24, H1 and H2, or grown indoors as a houseplant. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Howea belmoreana (Sentry Palm, Curly Palm, Belmore Sentry Palm) Reaches 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide, with 6-7 foot long leaves that form the canopy, which at maturity has around 36 leaves. This species is less commonly grown than Howea forsteriana. It is endemic to Lord Howe Island, Australia, where they prefer to grow in volcanic soils. |
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Howea forsteriana (Paradise Palm, Thatch Palm, Palm Court Palm) This relatively slow-growing species reaches 60 feet tall and 20 feet wide, with 9 foot long leaves that have a drooping habit. The species is named for Johann Reinhold Forster and Georg Forster, a father and son who accompanied the famous Captain Cook on his second voyage to the Pacific. |
Caring for and pruning Howea Trees
These palms are typically grown indoors in areas of the world that are not tropical, but they can do well outdoors in the right conditions. These palms prefer partial shade to filtered sunlight when grown outdoors, especially if they are in a warm climate. They can tolerate full sun, but will need some protection from harsh afternoon rays, especially during the warmer months. Foliage on these palms is susceptible to sunburn if they are exposed to too much direct sun. These trees do well in soil that is well-draining but retains some moisture. Loamy or sandy soils are ideal. If local soils are heavy or clayey (or both), make sure to amend the planting site with plenty of sand and organic material to increase drainage and improve soil structure. These palms prefer a soil pH of between 6.0 and 7.5. Apply a thick layer of mulch around plantings to increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and regulate soil temperatures. After planting, make sure young trees receive regular waterings to help them establish a strong, healthy root system. Mature trees should be deep watered to encourage a root system that stretches farther down into the soil. Avoid overwatering these plants, as they do not like to have wet feet, and will develop root rot issues.
These palms benefit from applications of organic compost in springtime each year. This is usually enough to supply nutrients for the year's growth and flowering, but if trees seem to be struggling or they are being grown in particularly poor soil, they may benefit from a feeding with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer (such as a 10-10-10). Avoid over-fertilizing these palms, as this can cause a buildup of salts in the soil, which will damage the palm. These trees don't require much pruning except to remove spent fronds as they turn brown. Avoid cutting healthy fronds, as this can harm the plant and reduce its overall health.
Caring for Kentia Palms Indoors
These trees are well-known as greenhouse and houseplants, and are typically best grown indoors in cooler climates. When grown indoors in containers, these palms typically reach a maximum of 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide. They can put on about 8 inches of growth each year. Place Kentia Palm in an area that receives bright, indirect sunlight. They should stay out of direct sunlight, even coming through windows, as this type of exposure can cause leaves to sunburn. Make sure soil substrate is well-draining; potting soil amended with plenty of perlite can do the trick, or there are also palm and succulent substrates that can be purchased at garden centers, as well. Ensure that containers have functional drainage holes. Water indoor Kentia Palms regularly, and reduce waterings in fall and winter when trees are dormant. Apply a slow-release, balanced fertilizer in springtime to support the season's growth. Keep these palms away from drafty or cold areas of the home; they thrive in warm, humid environments, and appreciate an occasional misting with a spray bottle. Remove dead or dying leaves as they fade, and keep green ones clean to maximize photosynthesis.
These palms benefit from applications of organic compost in springtime each year. This is usually enough to supply nutrients for the year's growth and flowering, but if trees seem to be struggling or they are being grown in particularly poor soil, they may benefit from a feeding with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer (such as a 10-10-10). Avoid over-fertilizing these palms, as this can cause a buildup of salts in the soil, which will damage the palm. These trees don't require much pruning except to remove spent fronds as they turn brown. Avoid cutting healthy fronds, as this can harm the plant and reduce its overall health.
Caring for Kentia Palms Indoors
These trees are well-known as greenhouse and houseplants, and are typically best grown indoors in cooler climates. When grown indoors in containers, these palms typically reach a maximum of 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide. They can put on about 8 inches of growth each year. Place Kentia Palm in an area that receives bright, indirect sunlight. They should stay out of direct sunlight, even coming through windows, as this type of exposure can cause leaves to sunburn. Make sure soil substrate is well-draining; potting soil amended with plenty of perlite can do the trick, or there are also palm and succulent substrates that can be purchased at garden centers, as well. Ensure that containers have functional drainage holes. Water indoor Kentia Palms regularly, and reduce waterings in fall and winter when trees are dormant. Apply a slow-release, balanced fertilizer in springtime to support the season's growth. Keep these palms away from drafty or cold areas of the home; they thrive in warm, humid environments, and appreciate an occasional misting with a spray bottle. Remove dead or dying leaves as they fade, and keep green ones clean to maximize photosynthesis.
Propagation
Howea is best propagated from seed. They grow rather slowly, and take a long time (approximately 15 years) to reach a mature age when they begin producing viable seeds. These palms do not produce offshoots that can be propagated through division, and only produce new leaves from the top of the trunk. To propagate your palm tree, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Howea by Seed
Propagating Howea by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. Seeds of Kentia Palms are produced within fruits. They are harvested when they turn from a dull orange color to a deep red. They are produced from summertime to early wintertime, depending on the climate in which the trees are grown. Remove fruits from their attachments (or pick them off the ground once they have been released), and cut them open to remove the seeds. There is one seed inside each drupe fruit. Remove the fleshy covering and rinse off any flesh.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes between a few weeks to over a year from sowing (be patient!). Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Howea palms produce fruits that contain seeds.
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Howea seeds are typically brown and shaped a bit like an Almond.
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Problems and Pests
Howea palm trees are susceptible to the following pests and diseases:
- Boron Deficiency
- Manganese Deficiency
- Potassium Deficiency
- Fungal Leaf Spot
- Spider Mites
- Mealybugs
- Scale Insects
Gallery
These palms are abundant on Lord Howe Island, Australia.
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These trees produce trunks that have prominent leaf scars.
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These palms grow well in subtropical climates.
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Videos
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How to grow Kentia Palms.
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Propagating camellias
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 366, Howea (Kentia Palm)
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