Howea forsteriania F. Muell., Becc., 1877

Common name(s): Kentia Palm, Thatch Palm, Court Palm, Parlor Palm, Sentry Palm

Family: Arecaceae Synonym(s): Kentia forsteriana F. Muell., Kentia australis T. Moore & Mast., Howeia forsterianan C. Moore & F. Muell., Becc., Grisebachia forsteriana F. Muell., H. Wendl. & Drude, Denea forsteriana F. Muell., O.F. Cook

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 15th October, 2019 at Sydney Botanic Gardens, New South Wales

Stem (Lower)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Frond (Back)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Fruit

Taken by Ken Harrington

Expand all

Palm / Palm Ally Properties

Origin(s)

Australia

NSW: LH

Plant Type

Frond Self Cleaning, Palm Feather-leaved, Solitary

Frond Self Cleaning,

Palm Feather-leaved,

Solitary

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Tropical-Sub

Climate Range(s) - Tolerance

Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub, Tropical

Temperate Warm,

Mediterranean,

Tropical-Sub,

Tropical

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Full, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light, Shade - Medium

Sun - Full,

Shade - Dappled,

Shade - Light,

Shade - Medium

Mature Height

9-10m

Mature Width

5-6m

Growth Rate

Slow

Plant Shape

Standard Crown - Open

Life Span

100-150yrs

Maturity

20-25 yrs., 25-30 yrs, 30-35 yrs., 35-40 yrs., 40-45 yrs, 45-50 yrs.

20-25 yrs.,

25-30 yrs,

30-35 yrs.,

35-40 yrs.,

40-45 yrs,

45-50 yrs.

Frond Properties

Frond Position

Arching

Frond Colour(s) (front)

Green Dark

Frond Colour(s) (back)

Green

Frond Texture (front)

Leathery

Frond Texture (back)

Leathery

Frond Length

2.75-3m

Frond Aroma

None

Frond Shapes

Pinnate / Parapinnate

Frond Arrangement

Stemmed Open Crown

Frond Attachment

Fibrous Sheath

Partial Sheath

Fibrous Sheath,

Partial Sheath

Pinna Shape(s) (Frondlet)

Acicular

Pinna Length (Frondlet)

650-700mm, 700-750mm, 750-800mm

650-700mm,

700-750mm,

750-800mm

Pinna Width (Frondlet)

25-30mm, 30-40mm, 40-50mm

25-30mm,

30-40mm,

40-50mm

Pinnae Arrangement

Drooping Pinnae

Even Pinnae

Drooping Pinnae,

Even Pinnae

Pinnae Pairs / Frond

20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 40-45

20,

21,

22,

23,

24,

25,

26,

27,

28,

29,

30,

31,

32,

33,

34,

35,

36,

37,

38,

39,

40,

40-45

Pinnule Margin(s) (Leaflet)

Entire

Petiole Length

1-1.5m

Trunk / Stem Properties

Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)

Green-grey

Colour(s) (Base)

Grey, Grey-green

Grey,

Grey-green

Cross Section

Terete

Diameter

80-90mm, 90-100mm, 100-125mm, 125-150mm

80-90mm,

90-100mm,

100-125mm,

125-150mm

Length

5-5.5m, 5.5-6m, 6-6.5m, 6.5-7m, 7-7.5m, 7.5-8m, 8.8.5m, 8.5-9m, 9-9.5m, 9.5-10m, 10-11m, 11-12m, 12-13m, 13-14m, 14-15m

5-5.5m,

5.5-6m,

6-6.5m,

6.5-7m,

7-7.5m,

7.5-8m,

8.8.5m,

8.5-9m,

9-9.5m,

9.5-10m,

10-11m,

11-12m,

12-13m,

13-14m,

14-15m

Features

Distinct Growth Rings, Smooth Trunk

Trunk - Swollen Base

Distinct Growth Rings, Smooth Trunk,

Trunk - Swollen Base

Stemmed-single

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Male

Flowering Time (start)

Winter Late

Flowering Time (end)

Spring Mid

Colour(s)

Cream-brown

Arrangements

Axillary, Subfoliar / Infrafoliar

Spike

Axillary, Subfoliar / Infrafoliar,

Spike

Arrangement Size(s)

425-450mm, 450-500mm, 500-600mm, 600-700mm, 700-800mm, 800-900mm, 900mm-1m, 1-1.25m

425-450mm,

450-500mm,

500-600mm,

600-700mm,

700-800mm,

800-900mm,

900mm-1m,

1-1.25m

Arrangement Shape

Pendulous , Spike , Spikelets 3-4 , Spikelets 4-5 , Spikelets 5-6 , Spikelets 6-7 , Spikelets 7-8

Pendulous,

Spike,

Spikelets 3-4,

Spikelets 4-5,

Spikelets 5-6,

Spikelets 6-7,

Spikelets 7-8

Pollinator(s)

Bees

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Same Flower Head

Stamen Number

65-100

Gender: Female

Flowering Time (start)

Winter Late

Flowering Time (end)

Spring Mid

Colour(s)

White

Pollinator(s)

Bees

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Same Flower Head

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Drupe

Shape(s)

Ellipsoid

Outer Colour(s)

Brown-red, Red

Brown-red,

Red

Outer Texture

Smooth

Hard

Length

30-40mm, 40-50mm

30-40mm,

40-50mm

Aroma

Fruity-Slight

Fruit Ripening

3 yrs., 4 yrs.

3 yrs.,

4 yrs.

Maturation for Fruiting

6 yrs., 7 yrs., 8 yrs., 9 yrs., 10 yrs.

6 yrs.,

7 yrs.,

8 yrs.,

9 yrs.,

10 yrs.

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter, Premium Potting Mix

Clay-loam,

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Sand,

Hummus Rich,

Organic Matter,

Premium Potting Mix

pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral

Condition(s)

Damp

Moist

Moist-Dry

Damp,

Moist,

Moist-Dry

Fertile , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

None

Waterlogging Class

None

Watering Requirements

WR3 - never let soil dry out, WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering, WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering, WR11 - periodic misting to maintain humidity

WR3 - never let soil dry out,

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering,

WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering,

WR11 - periodic misting to maintain humidity

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Poor

Bird Attraction

Habitat

Butterfly Attraction

None

Frog Habitat

Poor

Coastal

1st Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Retarding

None

Drought Tolerance

Moderate

Frost Tolerance

None

Smog Tolerance

Good

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

-6 - -4°C

Snow Tolerance

None

Landscape Use

Very Good

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Fronding

Pests/Diseases

Mealy Bug, Mites, Scale

Mealy Bug,

Mites,

Scale

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Architectural, Garden-Modern, Garden-Shade, Garden-Bali, Garden-Australian Native, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Formal, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Rainforest, Garden-Tropical, Interesting Trunk, Litter Issue - Fruit, Pool Side, Shade Tolerant, Shady Moist, Specimen, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Garden-Architectural,

Garden-Modern,

Garden-Shade,

Garden-Bali,

Garden-Australian Native,

Garden-Courtyard,

Garden-Foliage,

Garden-Formal,

Garden-Indoors,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Rainforest,

Garden-Tropical,

Interesting Trunk,

Litter Issue - Fruit,

Pool Side,

Shade Tolerant,

Shady Moist,

Specimen,

Sunny Moist,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's,

Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Dormancy

Winter

Humidity Requirements

Medium, High

Medium,

High

Vulnerability

VU - Vulnerable

Altitude Range - Habitat

0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m

0-100m,

100-200m,

200-300m

Altitude Range - Tolerance

0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m, 500-600m, 600-700m, 700-800m

0-100m,

100-200m,

200-300m,

300-400m,

400-500m,

500-600m,

600-700m,

700-800m

Annual Precipitation Range

1,200mm, 1,300mm, 1,400mm, 1,5oomm

1,200mm,

1,300mm,

1,400mm,

1,5oomm

Fertilising Requirements

FR3, FR5, FR6, FR11

FR3,

FR5,

FR6,

FR11

Wind Tolerance

Moderate Winds

Propagation

Fresh Seed

General Notes

An elegant solitary palm, often used as a house plant, considered to be one of the most beautiful palms in the world. Tolerant of low light and poor treatment. Often planted in pots as a group but it really is a solitary palm.

The Kentia palm has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit

Propagation Notes

Fresh Seed

Sowing

Spring Early

Material Preparation

Obtain fresh seed from mature outdoor grown palms. The seed takes 3-4 years to ripen. Pick the fruit when it is very red, off the tree or from off the ground. Peel off the outer flesh or if too hard, soak the seeds in warm water for 48 - 72 hours to loosen the outer flesh. Change the water daily. Discard any seeds that float to the top, keep the ones that sink. Floating seeds won't germinate as they lack an endosperm. Wash the seeds thoroughly with Solvol soap to remove any remaining pulp. Allow to dry. Store in a cool, dark place. It is best to sow the seed as soon as possible for best results.

Viability:- 6 - 12 months

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

Premium Seed Raising Mix

Treatment

Sow fresh seed into P2 tubes or trays and cover with mix, water in well with Previcur fungicide mix. Place in hothouse on 21°C heated bed with misters. Maintain hothouse environment between 75-95% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect light.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:- 7mths - 2 yrs 4 – 6 months before first frond opens

Pricking out:- N. A.

140mm Pot Mix:- Premium Potting Mix