Howea forsteriana – Kentia Palm - Evergreen Trees Direct

Howea forsteriana – Kentia Palm

Name: Howea forsteriana – Kentia Palm
Brand: Evergreen Trees Direct
Price: 1400.00 AUD
Availability: InStock

$1,400.00

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size: 100L

100L 200L 300L 500L - 1m trunk

Current Stock Height Guides

100L: 2.1m – 2.5m Approx.
200L: Enquire within for height guide information.
300L: Enquire within for height guide information.
500L – 1 m Trunk: 2.6m – 5.2m Approx.

Trade Customers

We supply advanced trees to landscapers, developers, architects, and councils Australia-wide. Trade clients receive fast quotes, expert advice, and access to premium stock with reliable freight.

About Howea forsteriana – Kentia Palm

Howea forsteriana, commonly known as the Kentia Palm, is a graceful, slow-growing palm prized for its arching fronds, slender trunk, and classic tropical elegance. The deep green, feather-like leaves emerge in layers, creating a lush canopy that provides soft texture and movement. Mature plants typically reach 3–6 metres tall and 2–3 metres wide outdoors, or remain more compact in pots and indoor environments.

Native to Lord Howe Island, this hardy palm thrives in part shade to bright filtered light and in rich, well-drained soil. Howea forsteriana is renowned for its adaptability, tolerating low light, air conditioning, and indoor environments better than most palms. Outdoors, it performs beautifully in sheltered gardens, courtyards, and coastal areas. It’s drought tolerant once established and frost hardy in mild conditions.

They look excellent as statement palms in large pots, grouped for a lush tropical effect, or used as understorey plantings in shaded landscapes. With its refined structure and resilience, the Kentia Palm is one of the most enduring and versatile palms for both interior and exterior design.

Key Information to Know

Evergreen / Deciduous

Howea forsteriana – Kentia Palm is an Evergreen (foliage year round) Tree

Mature Height & Width

Mature Height: 3–6 metres (smaller in pots)

Mature Width: 2–3 metres

Howea forsteriana – Kentia Palm is expected to grow 10 – 30 cm per year (slow–moderate).

Frost Tolerance

Is Howea forsteriana – Kentia Palm frost tolerant?

Howea forsteriana – Kentia Palm is Frost Sensitive – May suffer damage from frost, best in frost-free or protected spots.

Flowering Information

Howea forsteriana produces slender cream-coloured flower spikes in late spring to early summer. These arching inflorescences emerge gracefully from within the crown and develop into ornamental seed clusters, offering subtle seasonal interest against the elegant feathered fronds.

Native Information

Is Howea forsteriana – Kentia Palm an Australian Native? Yes

Howea forsteriana – Kentia Palm is Native to Lord Howe Island, off the east coast of Australia, where it grows naturally as an understory palm in subtropical forests.

Wildlife Value

Its flowers attract small pollinating insects, while the dense canopy of arching fronds provides excellent shelter, shade and roosting habitat for small birds. The fibrous leaf bases and trunk also support insects and microfauna that contribute to biodiversity in subtropical and coastal gardens.

Sunlight Information

Howea forsteriana – Kentia Palm will thrive best in:

Part Shade
Full Shade

Preffered Soil

Howea forsteriana performs best in well-drained loam or sandy loam soils and prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions. It may struggle in heavy clay or poorly drained areas unless improved with organic matter and coarse sand to boost drainage. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment, then maintain deep, occasional watering as the palm matures to support strong root health, frond quality and long-term resilience.

Botanical Information

Common Name: Kentia Palm

Genus: Howea

Botanical Species: Howea forsteriana

Family: Arecaceae

Botanical Name: Howea forsteriana

Landscape Uses

Council or Civic Landscapes

Howea forsteriana – Kentia Palm works in an:

Tropical Garden – lush, leafy planting for a resort-style atmosphere.
Formal Garden – structured, symmetrical design with clipped shapes.
Modern Garden – sleek, minimal, and design-led planting.
Low-maintenance Garden – resilient choices for easy care and year-round appeal.

Planting, Spacing & Care

Choose a shaded or partly shaded site with rich, well-drained soil.
Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball.
Add compost or organic matter to the backfill soil.
Water deeply after planting and mulch around the base.
Avoid full exposure to hot afternoon sun, especially when young.

Feature Planting: Space 2 – 3 m apart
Shade Canopy: Space 3 – 4 m apart

Keep soil consistently moist, especially during establishment.
Fertilise in spring and summer with a balanced, slow-release fertiliser.
Remove old or damaged fronds to maintain a tidy appearance.

Sandy soils: Excellent; thrives in coastal and well-drained soils.
Loamy soils: Ideal for strong, even growth.
Clay soils: Tolerates light clay if drainage is improved.
Coastal soils: Excellent salt and wind tolerance.
Poor soils: Enrich with organic matter to improve nutrient content.

Howea forsteriana – Kentia Palm is expected to grow 10 – 30 cm per year (slow–moderate).

Slow Growth Rate
Medium Growth Rate

Root Ball Dimensions (Width × Depth) For Planting

Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.

30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)

Ideal Conditions

Tropical QLD (Cairns, Townsville)
Subtropical QLD (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast)
Northern NSW (Byron, Coffs, Armidale)
Sydney & Central Coast
South Coast NSW (Illawarra to Bega)
Inland NSW / Tablelands (Orange, Bathurst, Canberra)
Melbourne & Surrounds (Metro, Bayside, Geelong, Bellarine, Mornington)
Western District & Central VIC (Ballarat, Bendigo, Hamilton)
Gippsland (Latrobe Valley, East Gippsland)
Adelaide Metro & Coastal

Thrives in

Part Shade
Full Shade

Frost Tolerance

Frost Sensitive – May suffer damage from frost, best in frost-free or protected spots.

Drought Tolerance

As a young palm it requires regular watering, and once established the Kentia Palm develops moderate drought tolerance. It performs best with consistent moisture, especially during hot or dry weather, but can handle short dry spells with deep, occasional watering to maintain lush, healthy fronds.