Howea Species, Belmore Sentry Palm, Curly Palm

In my "I'll try it 3 times before I quit" the regular Kentia grows so slowly, and seems (at least for me) to not tolerate any kind of mis...Read Moreting indoors and have killed the 3 that I have tried. Fronds will turn brown within a week and defoliate, then die. I have even used distilled water...same result.

The belmoreana version though, while subject to the same sensitivity to being misted grows much faster for me in all that I have tried. Like it's cousin, seems to prefer being on the dryer side for moisture but a much more attractive palm I my opinion with it's arching fronds. I now have two.

Scott/Omaha, NE

There are two species in this genus, both from the Lord Howe Islands off Australia. The other, much more common species, Howea forsteria...Read Morena or Kentia palm, is the most commonly used indoor palm in the industry. It also grows great outdoors in So Cal, and survives in Hawaii and Florida. So does this species. But H belmoreana is a very different looking palm, having more upright and recurved leaves. It is also grows more slowly and is somewhat more tender (by a few degrees) to cold than the Kentia Palm. Another difference is in the infructesences... H belmoreana has single, simple flowers that extend off the palm like long, thick cords. H forsteriana has branching flowers and seeds grow enmass from this palm. H belmoreana makes a decent indoor palm, but is less happy with low light situations and more susceptible to rot and mealy bug.