Howea forsteriana (Kentia Palm)
- Regular price
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€50,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€50,95
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do the tips of Kentia palm fronds turn brown? Browning of the tips is almost always caused by air that is too dry, hard water, or over-fertilizing — occasionally mist the fronds, use non-calcareous water, and strictly follow the recommended fertilizer doses.
Does the Kentia palm tolerate partial shade? Yes, that is one of its main advantages — the Kentia naturally grows under the canopy and perfectly tolerates dim urban interiors where most other large palms would refuse to thrive.
SHIPPING & PACKAGING
Shipping within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 business days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection to ensure the plant arrives in perfect condition
- Parcel tracking sent by email as soon as shipped
- Free delivery on orders over €50
48H QUALITY GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us within 48 hours at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- Free replacement or full refund
- No return necessary – we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage related to transport, severely weakened plant upon arrival, preparation errors.
CARE TIPS UPON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack immediately and inspect your plant
- Let it acclimatize 24-48h in a bright spot without direct sunlight
- Check soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting
- Avoid heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🌴 Finely divided, glossy green arching fronds • 🏝️ Elegant architectural form • ☀️ Indirect light to partial shade • 🐾 Non-toxic • 🏙️ 8 sizes available
Howea forsteriana, or Kentia palm, is an evergreen tropical palm native to Lord Howe Island (Australia), and one of the most elegant and tolerant houseplants there is. Its long, finely divided, glossy green arching fronds bring soft verticality and an immediate tropical presence to any interior. Among the large architectural plants in the catalogue, it is the most refined and best suited to partial-shade interiors.
Non-toxic to cats and dogs, easy to care for, and available in 8 sizes from the most compact to the large specimen, it is the ideal choice for structuring a hallway, living room or office with a calming architectural plant accent.
Which large indoor palm should you choose?
Verdeia offers several palms with distinct silhouettes. Here is how to position Howea forsteriana among the large architectural plants in the catalogue:
- Howea forsteriana (Kentia) (this plant) — long, finely divided arching fronds, an elegant and airy form, tolerates partial shade, 8 sizes (H75 to H130 cm). The most refined indoor palm and the most tolerant of difficult conditions.
- Livistona chinensis — round, fan-shaped leaves cascading into points, with a more compact form. The choice for graphic fan-shaped foliage that differs greatly from the Kentia.
- Livistona rotundifolia — rounder, upright fan-shaped leaves, with a more compact form. The choice for a fan palm in a medium-sized space.
- Chamaedorea elegans — compact palm with slender stems, H55 cm. The choice for an indoor palm in a small space or on a desk.
Light & placement
The Kentia is the most shade-tolerant indoor palm — it naturally grows in partial shade beneath the canopy of Lord Howe Island and adapts perfectly to urban interiors where light is filtered. The more indirect light it receives, the denser and glossier its fronds will be. A plant of this size can be placed according to a few simple guidelines shared by large XXL plants.
- Light: bright indirect light is ideal — tolerates partial shade; avoid only harsh direct sun.
- Placement: living room, entrance hall, office, bedroom — anywhere with enough height.
- Temperature: 18 to 24 °C — avoid cold drafts and frost.
- Rotation: rotate the pot 90° every 2 to 3 months for balanced growth on all sides.
An east- or north-west-facing window is ideal for the Kentia — soft light in the morning or afternoon without the scorching heat of midday sun, which can yellow the fronds.
Watering & care
The Kentia tolerates missed waterings but is sensitive to excess standing water — its roots quickly rot if the substrate remains waterlogged. Our finger test at a depth of 3 cm is the most reliable guide. Browning frond tips are most often caused by common issues: air that is too dry, hard water or depleted substrate.
- Watering: moderate — water when the surface of the substrate is dry to 2 cm deep; never leave standing water in the saucer.
- Humidity: occasionally mist the fronds in winter to counteract dry heating air.
- Fertiliser: liquid fertiliser for palms or green plants once a month from March to September.
- Cleaning: wipe the fronds with a damp cloth to maintain their shine and remove dust that accumulates on the fine leaflets.
- Repotting: every 2 to 3 years in spring, using an airy, well-draining substrate.
Never cut off an entire green frond — remove only completely yellow or dry fronds at the base of the trunk; cutting a green frond creates a permanent scar and does not stimulate growth.
Decorating ideas & plant combinations
The Kentia's soft verticality and arching fronds naturally structure any space — whether in an exuberant indoor jungle corner or a sleek contemporary interior, it brings a chic tropical presence without ever overwhelming the space.
- For a lush two-level tropical jungle, pair it with Monstera deliciosa in the foreground — the Monstera's large perforated leaves at floor level and the Kentia's arching fronds above create a lively two-level tropical composition.
- For a green, graphic architectural contrast, pair it with Strelitzia nicolai — the Kentia's soft, arching fronds contrast with the Strelitzia's large, rigid, upright leaves, two XXL plants with radically different forms.
- For an ideal non-toxic composition for homes with pets, pair it with Calathea Makoyana at its base — the Kentia in the background and the Calathea in the foreground create a completely non-toxic tropical composition, perfect for homes with cats and dogs.
- To enhance the Kentia's form in its pot, a matte black ceramic or raw concrete decorative pot creates the most elegant contrast with the glossy green fronds — the dark background intensifies the foliage's brightness and adds depth to the composition.
Two Kentias of different sizes placed at complementary heights — the taller one at the back and the more compact one slightly forward — create a very natural sense of plant depth that visually enlarges the room.
Verdeia tips
- Choose the right size from the start: the Kentia grows very slowly — 10 to 15 cm per year in optimal conditions — so choose a size suited to your final space when purchasing rather than relying on rapid growth to reach the desired height.
- Never overfertilise: the Kentia is a slow-growing plant that reacts very poorly to excess fertilisation — the frond tips turn brown and dry out if overfertilised; strictly follow the recommended doses and never fertilise in autumn or winter.
- Repot into a suitably sized pot, not one that is too large: a pot that is too large for the roots retains moisture for too long and encourages root rot — increase the diameter by no more than 3 to 4 cm at each repotting.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Howea forsteriana
- Common name: Kentia palm
- Origin: Oceania (Lord Howe Island, Australia)
- Available sizes: H75 cm | Pot Ø17 cm — H100 cm | Pot Ø19 cm — H100 cm | Pot Ø21 cm — H110 cm | Pot Ø21 cm — H120 cm | Pot Ø24 cm — H130 cm | Pot Ø21 cm — H130 cm | Pot Ø24 cm
- Light: indirect light to partial shade
- Watering: moderate — substrate surface dry to 2 cm deep between waterings
- Foliage: long, arching fronds, fine, glossy leaflets, deep green, evergreen
- Growth: slow — 10 to 15 cm per year
- Temperature: 18 to 24 °C
- Pet toxicity: non-toxic
- Decorative style: Tropical chic / Architectural / Halls and large spaces
Every plant is unique: the photos show an example of its appearance. The form, height and density of the fronds naturally vary according to age and growing conditions.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Shipping is done within 48 business hours, with tracked delivery within 2 to 5 business days. Delivery costs €5.60 — free for orders over €50. You will receive a tracking link as soon as the package is shipped.
What to do upon receiving my plant?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What to do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.