Howea forsteriana (Kentia Palm)
- Regular price
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€39,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€39,95
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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.
🌴 Shiny bright green finely cut arched palms • 🏝️ Elegant architectural form • ☀️ Indirect light to partial shade • 🐾 Non-toxic • 🏙️ 8 sizes available
Howea forsteriana, or Kentia palm, is a tropical evergreen palm native to Lord Howe Island (Australia), one of the most elegant and tolerant indoor plants. Its long, shiny bright green finely cut arched palms bring a soft verticality and an immediate tropical presence to any interior. Among the large architectural plants in the catalog, it is the most refined and best suited for semi-shaded interiors.
Non-toxic to cats and dogs, easy to care for, and available in 8 sizes from compact to large specimen, it is the ideal choice to structure a hall, living room, or office with an architectural and calming green accent.
Which large indoor palm to choose?
Verdeia offers several palms with distinct silhouettes. Here’s how to place Howea forsteriana among the large architectural plants in the catalog:
- Howea forsteriana (Kentia) (this plant) — long, finely cut arched palms, 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 with drooping tips, more compact form. The choice for a graphic fan-shaped foliage very different from Kentia.
- Livistona rotundifolia — rounder, upright fan-shaped leaves, more compact form. The choice for a fan palm in a medium-sized space.
- Chamaedorea elegans — compact palm with thin stems, H55 cm. The choice for an indoor palm in a small space or on a desk.
Light & placement
Kentia is the most tolerant indoor palm to partial shade — it naturally grows in partial shade under the canopy of Lord Howe Island and adapts perfectly to urban interiors where light is subdued. The more indirect light it receives, the denser and shinier its palms become. To find the best placement depending on the room, our guide on large XXL plants and how to integrate them offers practical tips.
- Light: bright indirect light ideal — tolerates partial shade, avoid only harsh direct sun.
- Placement: living room, entrance hall, office, bedroom — anywhere height allows.
- Temperature: 18 to 24 °C — avoid cold drafts and frost.
- Rotation: rotate the pot 90° every 2 to 3 months for balanced growth of all palms.
An east- or northwest-facing window is ideal for Kentia — soft light in the morning or afternoon without the scorching midday sun that yellows the palms.
Watering & care
Kentia tolerates missed waterings but is sensitive to excess stagnant water — its roots rot quickly if the substrate remains soggy. Our finger test at 3 cm depth is the most reliable indicator. If the palm tips brown, check the common causes — often dry air, hard water, or depleted substrate.
- Watering: moderate — water when the substrate surface is dry to 2 cm, never let water stagnate in the saucer.
- Humidity: occasionally mist the palms in winter to counteract dry heating air.
- Fertilizer: liquid fertilizer for palms or green plants once a month from March to September.
- Cleaning: wipe the palms 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 into an airy, well-draining substrate.
Never cut a whole green palm — only remove fully yellowed or dry palms at the base of the trunk; cutting a green palm creates a permanent scar and does not stimulate growth.
Decor ideas & plant pairings
The soft verticality and arched palms of Kentia naturally structure any space — in a lush 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 large perforated Monstera leaves on the floor and the arched Kentia palms above create a lively two-level tropical composition.
- For a green architectural and graphic contrast, pair it with Strelitzia nicolai — the flexible, arched Kentia palms contrast with the large rigid upright leaves of Strelitzia, two XXL plants with radically different forms.
- For a non-toxic composition ideal with pets, pair it with Calathea Makoyana at the base — Kentia in the background and Calathea in the foreground create a fully non-toxic tropical composition, perfect for homes with cats and dogs.
- To enhance the Kentia’s form in a pot, a decorative pot in matte black ceramic or raw concrete creates the most elegant contrast with the shiny green palms — 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 in the back, the more compact slightly forward — create a very natural plant depth effect that visually enlarges the room.
Verdeia tips
- Choose the right size from the start: Kentia grows very slowly — 10 to 15 cm per year in optimal conditions — choose a size suited to your final space at purchase rather than relying on fast growth to reach the desired height.
- Never overdose fertilizer: Kentia is a slow-growing plant that reacts very poorly to over-fertilization — palm tips brown and dry out if overdosed; strictly follow recommended doses and never fertilize in autumn-winter.
- Repot in a proportionate pot, not too large: a pot too large compared to the roots retains moisture too long and promotes root rot — increase the diameter by 3 to 4 cm maximum at each repotting, as detailed in our repotting guide.
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 between waterings
- Foliage: long, arched palms, fine shiny leaflets, deep green, evergreen
- Growth: slow — 10 to 15 cm per year
- Temperature: 18 to 24 °C
- Toxicity to animals: non-toxic
- Decor style: Tropical chic / Architectural / Hall and large spaces
Each plant is unique: photos show an example of its appearance. Form, height, and palm density naturally vary with 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.