| |

How to Grow Kentia Palm — Howea

ByStephen Albert

Sharing is caring!

Howea–commonly called Kentia palm or sentry palm–is a dark green, feather-leaved palm with deeply cleft, arching fronds that grow from a single stem. It is often grown as a houseplant; indoors it usually grows to not more than 8 feet (2.4m) tall.

Howea is a slow grower and easy to maintain indoors. It has a tolerance for air-conditioned and poorly lit environments. It has been a much sought-after houseplant for more than 100 years.

Howea grows best indoors in bright filtered or full light. Outdoors it can be grown in full sun. Outdoors it is best grown against a warm wall and should be sheltered from cold, drying winds.

Howea is a genus of just two species of single-stemmed palms. Howea is native to Lord Howe Island, Australia.

Get to know Howea 

  • Plant type:  Palm
  • Growing zones and range:  Zones 11-12
  • Hardiness:  Tender
  • Temperature: day, 70°F (21°C); night, 50° to 55°F (10° to 13°C). An average temperature and medium humidity. 
  • Height and width: Indoors 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide; in tropical regions outdoors to 60 feet (18m) tall and 20 feet (6m) wide
  • Flowers:  Star-shaped , 3-petaled flowers are borne on long spikes
  • Bloom time:  Summer
  • Uses:  Use young specimens as houseplants; in warm regions, use as a free-standing lawn specimen or in a courtyard garden 
  • Common name: Kentia palm, paradise palm, sentry palm. 
  • Botanical name:  Howea
  • Family name:  Arecaceae
  • Origin:  Howe Island, Australia
Kentia palm, Howea fosteriana
Kentia palm, Howea fosteriana

Where to plant Howea 

  • Light: Bright to low light, no direct sun, from any exposure. Does well under artificial light. Air circulation is important. Give sentry palm limited to bright light, an average temperature and medium humidity. 
  • Soil: All-purpose mix, with good. An all-purpose soil mix. 

When to plant Howea 

  • Set Howea outdoors  any time of the year in tropical and subtropical regions. 

Planting and spacing Howea 

  • Space Howea 6 feet wide (2m) apart indoors; in tropical regions outdoors space Howea 20 feet (6m) apart.

How to water and feed Howea 

  • Water: Keep soil evenly moist, not soggy. Allow the soil to dry between thorough watering. Howea can stand occasional dryness.
  • Mist Howea twice daily. It prefers humidity of 45% to 60%. 
  • Feeding: Fertilize Howea every 2 weeks, with mild liquid fertilizer during spring and summer. 

Howea care  

  • Howea rests in winter. Set plants in cool pace at about 55°F (13°C). Keep the soil barely moist and withhold fertilizer.  

Growing Howea as a houseplant

  • Howea will grow with limited to bright light, an average temperature and medium humidity.
  • Allow the soil to dry between thorough waterings and fertilize during spring and summer.
  • Shower the plant regulalry with tepid water to keep the fronds clean
  • Repot Howea once every two to three years and use an all-purpose soil mix.

Howea pests and diseases  

  • Howea is vulnerable to attack from mealybugs, scale insects and spider mites. 

Howea propagation  

  • Propagate Howea by seeds. It is a slow grower and not recommended for home propagation  

Howea varieties to grow  

  • Howea belmoreana, Belmore sentry palm, curly palm. Grows slowly to 8 feet (2.4 m);  has a short-stemmed trunk with a thick base; leafstalks are erect, 10 to 18 inches long and bear graceful, erect, bright green fronds to 18 inches in length; leaflets are rigid near midrib, then arch downwards; fronds spread while plant is young.  
  • H. forsterana, Kentia palm. Grows to 8 feet (2.4 m) tall; has fronds that reach 2 feet in length and spread horizontally from the stem. 

Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. His books include Vegetable Garden Grower’s Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Grower’s Answer Book, and Kitchen Garden Grower’s Guide. His Vegetable Garden Grower’s Masterclass is available online. Harvesttotable.com has more than 10 million visitors each year.

Similar Posts

  • How to Grow Magnolias

    ByStephen Albert

    Magnolias are trees or shrubs commonly grown for their magnificient blossoms in white, pink, red, purple, and sometimes yellow. Depending on the species or cultivar they can vary from about 10 feet tall to 80 feet tall and often just as wide. Magnolias appear in varied sizes and shapes. Magnolias include both evergreen and deciduous…

  • How to Grow Prayer Plant — Maranta

    ByStephen Albert

    Maranta–commonly called prayer plant–is a leafy, low-growing tropical evergreen perennial. It has broad, oval leaves supported by short leafstalks. Leaves are green with gray or red veins and symmetrical featherlike markings. Maranta leaves fold up at night and resemble praying hands. Maranta is cultivated for their crowded clumps of intricately patterned, blunt-ended, elliptic leaves. Maranta…

  • Tree Care Basics

    ByStephen Albert

    Trees are the largest and longest-lived plants in the landscape. They bring beauty and serenity to the garden. The time and effort spent in tree care are minuscule compared to the decades of pleasure they give. Trees are relatively self-sufficient once established. Once a tree is established its care is mostly a matter of protecting…

  • How to Grow Nidularium

    ByStephen Albert

    Nidularium is a genus in the bromeliad family, valued for its rosette-forming leaves and the bright, eye-catching central bracts that resemble a bird’s nest, which is where the name “nidularium” (derived from the Latin word nidulus, meaning “nest”) comes from. These tropical plants are native to the rainforests of Brazil and are appreciated for their…