It is a flowering plant species under the palm family Arecaceae in the order Arecales. Kentia palms adapt well to outdoor growth, when planted in an environment that doesn’t experience winter freezes and the weather is consistently warm year-round. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Growing Beautiful Houseplants. [2] The palm received the name "forsteriana" after the naturalist father and son duo who accompanied Captain Cook's second voyage to the Pacific, Johann Reinhold Forster and Georg Forster. Grown for the lush green foliage that brings a tropical look, the leaves as long and slender and the plant has a natural upright habit. [7] In part this was because the plant thrived in interiors where low light, low humidity, poor air quality and cool temperatures made palms otherwise impossible to grow.[8]. Howea forsteriana. [4], If used indoors, make sure to mist the fronds three times a week with rainwater to raise the humidity levels and keep the fronds looking green and healthy. Kentia Palms were the iconic parlour palms of the Victorian era. It is slow growing, but will eventually reach heights of 6 to 18 metres. The famous Kentia Palm from Lord Howe Island off the east coast of Australia hardly needs any introduction. [3], The species is considered vulnerable by the World Conservation Union. The popularity of this plant stretches back to Queen Victoria’s reign whose homes were decorated with the “parlor palm”. They are single trunked with elegant, arching feathered fronds that seem to almost spread into a fan. Photo by Troy Donovan. The Kentia Palm is one of the beautiful and famous indoor palm plants which holds the native of Lord Howe Island located in Australia. About Kentia Palm. [6] The Kentia became the quintessential 'parlor palm' beginning in the 1870s, when seed exports from Lord Howe Island first started. Elegant and stately, the Howea forsteriana is one of the first plants cultured for use inside buildings (think hotel lobbies in classic Bogart films), and it stands the test of time. There are no related plants for species Howea forsteriana. The easy nature of Kentia palm care makes it a perfect choice for a novice. DISCLAIMER - The information provided on this website is to be used as a guide only. Commonly known as the Kentia Palm Howea forsteriana is an Australian native species that originates off the east coast on Lord Howe Island. Slow growing. ... Flora of Australia. Species: Howea forsteriana Country: Australia Institution: Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Collection: National Herbarium of Victoria Basis of record: Preserved specimen Catalogue number: MEL:MEL 0262735A View record. Howea has been growing there for two million years, and its bearing is that of a tall palm tree. Part of the state of New South Wales, Australia, Lord Howe Island is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Germination of the seeds is erratic. Its fronds can reach 3 m (10 ft) long. Ideal office plant. In tropical climes it is used as outdoor décor but in temperate climes as a houseplant. It’s also one palm that can tolerate low-light conditions. Originating on Lord Howe Island, off the coast of Australia it is still not found anywhere else in the wild. The Kentia Palm Tree doesn’t require much maintenance and can easily adapt to a wide ranges of soil conditions. This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Palms are beautiful additions to any garden or indoor space if you're going for the beach or island vibe. [10] The association with royalty and the fact that Kentias were quite expensive to buy gave those who could furnish their homes with them a certain prestige. This article was last updated on 07/11/19. Overwatering, or allowing the roots to sit in water, can induce root rot and kill the palm. This plant is sensitive to … The slow-growing Kentia palm’s native range is Lord Howe Island located off the east coast of Australia. (2017) p 135 Parts Shown: Habit Photo. Native to Australian Lord Howe Island. Commonly known as the Kentia Palm, Howea forsteriana is an Australian native species that originates off the east coast on Lord Howe Island. This palm is an elegant plant, and is extremely popular for growing indoors. Howea forsteriana has been used as an indoor plant since Victorian times and has proven to be as popular today as it was then. Tolerant of poor treatment and neglect, it will put up with low light better than almost any other palm. It grows readily outside in areas such as southern Australia and northern New Zealand, where it is fairly common in private gardens or as a street tree. It is natural for the lower leaves to turn brown and dry out. 49 (1994) p xvi, Pl. Native to Australian Lord Howe Island. [8] They are more popular, less expensive, and easier to purchase in European countries than they are in the United States, where much of the commercial growing is done in Hawaii before plants are brought to the mainland. The kentia palm tree (Howea forsteriana) is one of the Arecaceae and is also known as the thatch palm tree. Howea forsteriana is a single trunk, pinnate palm tree from Lord Howe Island, an island east of Australia between Australia and New Zealand.It is known as the Kentia Palm or Kentia, but also goes by the names Paradise Palm, Sentry Palm and the Thatch Palm. 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. It is cultivated on Lord Howe Island by collecting wild seeds and germinating them for export worldwide as an ornamental garden or house plant. It originates from Lord Howe Island in Australia. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. An indoor houseplant fertilizer should be applied regularly in the spring and summer to encourage growth. Howea forsteriana is a relatively slow-growing palm that has a slender trunk with feather shaped drooping fronds. Description. Sensitive to low temperatures. The mature spread ranges from 10-20 ft (3-6 m) across, and the height may range from 15-… H. forsteriana in particular is commonly grown as an indoor plant in the Northern Hemisphere, and the two species form the mainstay of the island's palm seed industry and more importantly its trade in newly germinated seedlings. Please login or register to see our prices, Skip to the beginning of the images gallery. Howea forsteriana can grow to a height of 9 metres and a width of 4 metres. If outdoors, situate in a shady area and avoid pruning as this can lead to fungal infections. This plant is sensitive to over watering. The kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) is one of the most beautiful palms in the world, and is suitable for growing either indoors or outdoors. 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). It is considered by many to be the best house plant in the world. Photos are NOT of current stock and is displayed only for illustration purposes as a representation of the variety. Pottery may be available for pick up from Carabooda or Forrestdale, but stock is not transferrable. Howea forsteriana has a canopy of about three dozen gracefully drooping leaves which produce an airy and poised look. By 1885 the palm had achieved preeminence in Britain, where the Journal of Horticulture commented that: "These Kentias are in greater demand than almost any other palm on account of their great beauty and enduring properties. 197. [13] In the northern hemisphere, a northern or northeastern window is best, as Kentias cannot tolerate direct sun and will sunburn if placed in such an exposure. Howea forsteriana is a relatively slow-growing palm that has a slender trunk with feather shaped, drooping fronds. It is also widely grown on Norfolk Island. no. The palms are also cultivated on Norfolk Island, where seeds are produced for export. Howea forsteriana has been used as an indoor plant... Evergreen / Indoor Foliage / Native Australian Plant / Outdoor / Palm/Cycad / Perennial / Tree, Lanceolate - Pointed At Both Ends/Subulate - Tapering Point, Awl-shaped. When indoors, ensure Howea forsteriana is planted in an area of decent but indirect sunlight exposure, and do not overwater. [13] They remain relatively expensive to purchase, because the export of seeds from Lord Howe Island is strictly controlled, the germination rate for seeds is low, and the plant is a slow grower, requiring years of nurturing to reach saleable size. The scientific name of the species is Howea Forsteriana. Gower Climb (Lord Howe Island) - Troy & Darold Petty's excellent adventure. Here, the palms grow in lowlands and foothills. However, when they are turned into houseplants, the height only ranges between 5 to 12 feet. It is also widely grown on Norfolk Island. Its fronds can reach 3 m (10 ft) long. This single island comprises its entire natural habitat. Kentia palm leaflets are dark green on top and lighter green on the bottom. Commonly known as the Kentia Palm Howea forsteriana is an Australian native species that originates off the east coast on Lord Howe Island. Regarded by many as one of the most attractive of all palm trees the Kentia Palm, ‘ Howea forsteriana’ is used both as an indoor plant and in the garden. [11] One of the first class facilities of R.M.S Titanic, such as the Verandah Café (a palm court), had featured a number of potted Kentia palms.[12]. Howea Forsteriana - Kentia © Coast Road Palms Perth Western Australia (WA) Caring For Your Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana). Sensitive to draught. Howea forsteriana is relatively low maintenance. Slow growth to 35', full sun on the coast only, shade inland. Sensitive to draught. Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) is a popular choice among interior decorators because it is well suited for container growing. Herwig, Rob. Out of doors, it prefers a tropical region but will also grow in a cooler climate, and can tolerate temperatures down to -5 °C, but only for a few hours; normal temperatures should not go below 10°. As part of our Hawaiian Collection, it comes to us with a strong root system grown in lava rock giving it long-lasting properties with very little fuss. Howea forsteriana NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. From the Lord Howe Islands near Australia . The coasts of the southeastern Azores and Madeira offer climates similar to its original habitat. It can grow to 15 metres tall, but in a garden situation it is usually smaller, to around 5 metres. Just like all the other islands of the area, it is now endangered because of rising sea levels. The History Press. Howea forsteriana, the Kentia palm or thatch palm, is a species of flowering plant in the palm family Arecaceae, endemic to Lord Howe Island in Australia. This may be the cause if the leaves start to … A small, oceanic islandbetween Australia and New Zealand is home to the Kentia palm (also known as the paradise palm or the thatch palm) H. forsterianaand the Belmore sentry palm H. belmoreana. Kentia Palm (Howea Forsteriana) is native to Lord Howe Island off eastern Australia. The palm received the name "forsteriana" after the naturalist father and son duo who accompanied Captain Cook's second voyage to the Pacific, Johann Reinhold Forster and Georg Forster. "[9] Another reason for their popularity is attributable to Queen Victoria, who cultivated them in all of her homes and left instructions for Kentia palms to be placed around her coffin while she lay in state. The Kentia Palms grow more quickly as singles than in the plant groupings. Western Australia's Leading Wholesale Nursery Since 1963! Under natural conditions, it grows as a solitary tree. 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