# Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana)

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/kentia-palm · Updated: 2026-10-07
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/plants/kentia-palm)

Kentia palm · also called Forster sentry palm, Paradise palm, Thatch-leaf palm  
indoor · exotic · family Arecaceae · grows 1–2.5 m tall, 0.6–1.5 m wide · slow growth  
part shade · moderate water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 1 · salt 1 · drought 3 · shade 4 · ease of care 4  
Sow or plant: Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov  
Uses: indoor, container, specimen

The graceful, slow floor palm for living rooms and majlis. It copes with low light, dust and drier air and is listed as safe for cats and dogs, but it costs more and grows slowly, so buy the height you want.

## About

Meet the kentia palm, the palm that has furnished formal rooms for generations. NC State notes that it was hugely popular in Victorian times, and it keeps that place because it survives what an indoor room throws at it: low light, dust, central heating, drought and rough handling. The RHS calls it tolerant of cooler temperatures and drier air, and lists it among the good palms for a house.

The shape is the appeal. A single slim stem carries a crown of long, arching fronds with leaflets that hang in a soft, layered curve, so the plant reads as calm rather than busy. It is slow, so a tall one is expensive, but it gives a room the look of a mature tree. In a villa majlis or a double-height living room, a pair of kentias either side of a sofa or doorway frames the space.

In Dubai, the room matters more than the sun. NC State says it needs little light indoors, and the RHS prefers bright light with protection from sun. A spot beside a window with no direct afternoon sun, or a lit corner a little back from the glass, suits it. What it dislikes is a root ball that dries out and a direct draught from the AC.

Kentia palm (*Howea forsteriana*), also called Forster sentry palm, is a single-stemmed evergreen palm from Lord Howe Island. The RHS gives 2 m for a plant in a container, and a mature plant in the ground can reach 8 to 12 m after 20 to 50 years. NC State says it is slow growing and grows more quickly when planted on its own rather than in a group, so a single plant in its own pot makes the best use of the space.

Light is flexible. NC State lists dappled sunlight or partial shade, and says it requires little light indoors, and the RHS says bright light with protection from the sun, ideally north- or east-facing. In Dubai that means a bright room without hot afternoon sun at west or south glass, though a dim corner is fine. Unlike a ponytail or ZZ plant, it does not like to dry out: NC State asks for a well-drained but humus-rich mix that never dries out completely.

Water moderately in growth and sparingly in winter, feed monthly through the warm months, and wipe the fronds to remove dust. NC State says the most serious problem is potassium deficiency, which causes leaf browning, so regular feeding matters. Watch for mealybugs, scale, thrips and red spider mites, which the RHS and NC State list, and see [Parlour palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/parlour-palm.md) and [Lady palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lady-palm.md) for smaller palms that suit the same dim rooms.

## Indoors in Dubai

- **Light:** grows well in low–bright indirect light. Needs little light indoors (NC State) and does best in bright light with protection from strong sun (RHS). Keep it back from hot afternoon glass at west or south windows.
- **Dry air and air conditioning:** tolerance 4 out of 5 (1 = needs humidity help, 5 = indifferent). The RHS calls it tolerant of cooler temperatures and drier air. Keep it out of direct airflow, wipe the fronds, and never let the root ball dry out.
- **Pets:** pet-safe: not toxic to cats or dogs on the ASPCA list.
- **Size:** floor-standing.
- **Rooms:** majlis, living room, hallway, home office, bedroom.
- **Finding it in Dubai:** specialist: look in specialist plant shops and larger garden centres.
- **Outdoors:** never: keep it indoors all year.

## Through the year

A kentia looks the same in every month, so its calendar is about pace and checks. From March to September, warmer rooms and longer days push the few new fronds a year, and that is when monthly feeding earns its keep and when a weekly look under the fronds for spider mites and scale is worthwhile. From December to February growth is almost still: water sparingly, but never let the root ball dry out completely. The months to buy and pot up a tall, heavy palm are October to November and February to April, when it is not being carried through 45°C heat.

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov | Plant: Buy and pot up | Move tall palms in the cooler months, not through summer heat. |
| Apr–Sep | New growth: A few new fronds | Slow, in every season. |
| Mar–Sep | Feed: Monthly feed | Regular feeding guards against potassium shortage. |
| Apr–Oct | Pest watch: Check for mites and scale | Look under the fronds. Warm, dry rooms suit spider mites. |
| Dec–Feb | Dormant: Water sparingly | Do not let the root ball dry out completely. |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** Water moderately when the soil is dry about 5 cm down, and let the pot drain. Do not let the root ball dry out completely, as NC State asks for a mix that never dries out.
- **Watering in winter:** Water sparingly from December to February, as growth almost stops, but never let it dry out completely.
- **While establishing:** For the first month, leave it where you put it, water by the finger test and keep it out of the vent's airflow while it settles.
- **Soil:** A well-drained, humus-rich mix: houseplant compost with extra perlite. The RHS suggests peat-free, loam-based compost with composted bark and leaf mould added.
- **Feeding:** Feed monthly from March to September with a balanced liquid fertiliser; regular feeding matters because NC State names potassium deficiency as its most serious problem. Flush the pot every four to six months with at least twice its volume of plain water.
- **Pruning:** No pruning is needed (RHS). Cut off only fronds that are fully brown, at the base, and leave a narrow brown margin when trimming brown tips.
- **Planting:** Repot only when the roots fill the pot, in spring, into a slightly larger pot. Grown alone it grows faster than in a group, according to NC State. Buy and pot up in October to November or February to April.
- **Pests and problems:** Mealybugs; Scale insects; Thrips; Spider mites
- **Toxicity:** Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs and cats (Kentia Palm, Howea forsteriana, also called Forster sentry palm), and NC State lists it as non-toxic for cats, dogs and horses. Any plant can upset a pet's stomach if eaten in quantity, so watch a chewer.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- Survives low light, dust and rough handling (NC State)
- Listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to cats and dogs
- Tolerates cooler temperatures and drier air (RHS)
- Tall, arching form suits a majlis or double-height room
- No pruning needed

**Cons**
- Slow: a tall plant is the priciest way to buy height
- Root ball must not dry out completely
- Potassium shortage browns the leaves if it is never fed
- Needs protection from hot afternoon sun at west glass

## Common mistakes

- Letting the root ball dry out between waterings. Unlike a ponytail palm, a kentia needs a mix that does not dry out completely, so water when it is dry about 5 cm down, not weeks later.
- Never feeding it. NC State says potassium deficiency is its most serious problem, so feed monthly through the warm months.
- Putting it at a hot west window. The RHS says it needs protection from the sun, and the fronds scorch.
- Placing it in the direct airflow from an AC unit. Dry air browns the frond tips, so move it out of the draught.
- Cutting the top or trimming into green. No pruning is needed (RHS), so remove only fully brown fronds.

## Good to know

- The ASPCA lists kentia palm (*Howea forsteriana*) as non-toxic to dogs and cats, under the name kentia palm, with Forster sentry palm as another name. NC State lists it as non-toxic for cats, dogs and horses.
- NC State says it survives low light, dust, central heating, rough handling and drought, and was hugely popular in Victorian times.
- A kentia grows more quickly when planted individually, according to NC State, so one plant in a pot beats three crowded together.
- Dubai prices checked on 7 October 2026: from AED 175 at Adplants and from AED 349 for 100 to 180 cm at Plantsworld. Heights and pots differ, so compare size, not only price.

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Symmetrical pair for a majlis, Floor palm for a living room, Entrance or hallway feature, Low-light statement plant

Use kentia where a room needs a calm, tall green shape: a pair either side of a sofa or doorway in a majlis, a single palm in a living room corner beside a floor lamp, or a plant at the end of a hallway. It gets its look from space, so give it room to arch and keep it clear of furniture. Put it where daylight reaches it but the afternoon sun does not, out of the direct airflow from a ceiling unit, and in a heavy, stable pot so a tall plant does not tip.

- [Lady palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lady-palm.md): Lady palm's dense fan leaves contrast with kentia's arching fronds in a majlis, and both are listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic and happy in low light.
- [Moth orchid](https://plantguide.ae/plants/moth-orchid.md): A moth orchid on a console beneath a kentia adds flowers to the green, and it is also listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic.
- [Cast iron plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/cast-iron-plant.md): Cast iron plant fills the dim floor space under a kentia's fronds, and it is also pet-safe and tolerant of deep shade.

## FAQ

**Does a kentia palm grow in low light in Dubai?**  
Yes. NC State says it requires little light indoors, and the RHS lists it among the palms that tolerate low light. It does best in a room with daylight but no hot afternoon sun, and in a dim corner it grows more slowly.

**Is kentia palm safe for cats and dogs?**  
Yes. The ASPCA lists kentia palm as non-toxic to dogs and cats. Chewing any plant can still cause mild stomach upset.

**How big does a kentia palm get, and how fast?**  
It is slow growing. The RHS gives about 2 m for a container plant, and a mature plant in the ground can reach 8 to 12 m over 20 to 50 years. Buy the height you want, since a small plant takes years to grow.

**Why are the leaves on my kentia palm turning brown?**  
The RHS links brown palm tips to underwatering or a dry atmosphere. NC State names potassium deficiency as the most serious problem, which browns the leaves. Check the soil about 5 cm down, feed monthly in the warm months, and move it out of the AC airflow.

**How much does a kentia palm cost in Dubai?**  
Checked on 7 October 2026, prices started at AED 175 at Adplants and AED 349 for 100 to 180 cm at Plantsworld. Prices change, and a taller plant costs more because it takes years to grow.

**Kentia, parlour palm or areca palm: which is best for a dim room?**  
The RHS says chamaedorea (parlour palm), howea (kentia) and rhapis (lady palm) tolerate low light, while areca palm needs good light levels. Parlour palm suits a desk or shelf, kentia suits the floor, and areca palm suits a brighter spot.

## Related plants

[Parlour palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/parlour-palm.md) · [Lady palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lady-palm.md) · [Areca palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/areca-palm.md) · [Moth orchid](https://plantguide.ae/plants/moth-orchid.md) · [Cast iron plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/cast-iron-plant.md) · [Bird of paradise](https://plantguide.ae/plants/bird-of-paradise.md)

## Photos

![Howea forsteriana in its natural range at North Bay, Lord Howe Island, Australia. Common Names : Kentia Palm, Sentry...](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Howea_forsteriana_Lord_Howe_Island.jpg)  
Photo: Black Diamond Images / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Howea_forsteriana_Lord_Howe_Island.jpg))

![Howea forsteriana in its natural range at Neds Beach, Lord Howe Island, Australia. Common Names : Kentia Palm, Sentry...](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Endemic_Howea_forsteriana_Palms-_Neds_Beach%2CLord_Howe_Island.jpg)  
Photo: Black Diamond Images / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Endemic_Howea_forsteriana_Palms-_Neds_Beach,Lord_Howe_Island.jpg))

![The flora of Ballina, New South Wales is a mix of ornamental plantings and the original vegetation complex.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/Howea_forsteriana_Swift_Street_Ballina_NSW_L1020674.jpg)  
Photo: John Robert McPherson / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Howea_forsteriana_Swift_Street_Ballina_NSW_L1020674.jpg))

## Sources

- [RHS: Howea forsteriana plant profile](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/8845/howea-forsteriana/details)
- [RHS: Palms indoors](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/trees/indoor-palms)
- [NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Howea forsteriana](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/howea-forsteriana/)
- [ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants, Kentia Palm](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/kentia-palm)
- [University of Maryland Extension: Watering indoor plants](https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-indoor-plants)
- [Colorado State Extension: Managing houseplant pests](https://extension.colostate.edu/resource/managing-houseplant-pests/)
- [Adplants pet-safe collection (price checked 7 October 2026)](https://adplants.com/collections/pet-safe)
- [Plantsworld: Kentia palm (price checked 7 October 2026)](https://plantsworld.ae/products/kentia-palm-howea-forsteriana-plant)