Hello, I’m Kentia! I’m not meaning to boast, but I’m definitely one of the favourites here. It’s because I’m so relaxed; I can cope with shade, the cold and I’m fairly forgiving if you forget to water me on a couple of occasions. Because of this, I’m probably the easiest indoor palm tree to grow for beginners.
While I might not be the most captivating potted palm plant you’ve ever laid eyes on, you will find that my lush leaves convert any space into a tropical enclave and can help brighten even the dullest of British days.
My Latin name, Howea Forsteriana, is a bit of a mouthful, but you can call me Kentia, sentry palm or thatch palm – I answer to all three. I hail originally from the dazzling topical island of Lord Howe, a tiny speck of land in the South Pacific between Australia and New Zealand, whose economic fortunes in the 1800s once revolved entirely around little old me. Once I arrived in the UK, I became a status symbol for green-fingered Victorians who loved to showcase their treasures brought from exotic distant lands.
I can grow up to 12 metres in the wild, but don’t panic: I’m very slow growing and I’ll only hit heights of two or three metres in your home.
Small Height (including nursery pot) 45-50cm; pot diameter 13cm; Fits 14-16cm decorative pot.
Medium Height (including nursery pot) 75-85cm; pot diameter 17cm; Fits 17-19cm decorative pot.
Big Height (including nursery pot) 90-110cm; pot diameter 19cm; Fits 21-23cm decorative pot.
