Kentia Palm
Howea forsteriana
Howea Forsteriana (Kentia Palm or Thatch Palm) is a world-famous, slow-growing palm endemic to Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia. Highly prized for its slender green trunk and grand, arching, dark-green feathery fronds, it is extremely resilient, surviving low light, cold weather, and dry air better than almost any other palm.
Native Origin & Climate
Lord Howe Island coastal rainforests. Completely adapted to temperate and subtropical climates across New South Wales and Victoria.
Expert Pruning Tip
Cut away old, dry, brown fronds near the base of the stem. Wipe the large fronds with a damp cloth occasionally to remove dust.

In-Situ Environment

Urban Botanics Art
Botanical Blueprint
Localized Australian Care Taxonomy
Beginner Friendly. Highly resilient and slow-growing. One of the hardiest palms in the world, tolerating lower light and low humidity.
Prefers bright, indirect light, but adapts exceptionally well to low-light office corners and dim rooms. Protect from direct midday sun.
Low-to-moderate. Water thoroughly when the top 50% of the soil has dried out. Drought-tolerant once established. Avoid soggy roots.
Rich and fast-draining potting mix. A premium indoor mix blended with 20% coarse perlite and 10% sand ensures good drainage.
Very tolerant of dry air, winter heating, and air conditioning. Tolerates cold winter temperatures and light outdoor frost down to -5°C.
Sowing seeds. It is slow to grow from seeds, so purchasing young potted palms is the standard methodology.
Grand, arching, and elegant. Slender stems with deep-green arching leaflets. Adds high-end architectural scale to spaces.
Bright living room corners, dining rooms, offices, or sheltered patios and decks in southern Australia.
Versatile Sheltered
Safe:Completely non-toxic to dogs, cats, and children. A highly safe and worries-free houseplant for any home.
Local Availability
Compare prices from leading Australian nurseries
Bunnings Warehouse
Flower Power
* Aussie Botanica is supported by our readers. When you click our links to nurseries, we may earn a small referral commission at no additional cost to you. Stock levels are estimated and subject to local store variations.