Howea forsteriana (F.Muell.) Becc - or the famous Kentia Palm from Lord Howe Island, off the east coast of Australia, hardly needs any introduction. It is considered by many to be the best house plant in the world. Tolerant of poor treatment and neglect, it will put up with low light better than almost any other palm.
This 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 4m long with thornless petioles (leaf stems). The leaflets are like fingers, up to 1 m long; they bend downward in a graceful fashion. Kentia palm leaflets are dark green on top and lighter green on the bottom.
Probably the most widely used and most popular "house plant" of all time, dating back to the Victorian ages in England, where it recieved it's common name of "Parlor Palm." Literally hundreds of millions of seeds/plants have been exported from Lord Howe for this purpose.
Etymology: 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
Howea forsteriana
Howea forsteriana comes in following sizes:
L - is ca. 90 cm tall and comes in a ⌀ 19 cm pot.
XL - is ca. 125 cm tall and comes in a ⌀ 24cm pot.
XL (hydro) - is ca. 140 cm tall and comes in a ⌀ 18cm pot.
XXL - is ca. 160 cm tall and comes in a ⌀ 24cm pot.
