Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gardening

Which types of palms will thrive in your home?

By

Palm trees evoke images of sunny beaches, warm days, and relaxation. You can bring a little of that into your home with a lovely indoor palm tree. Of course, not every tree does well in pots, and, unless you have very tall ceilings you likely won’t want a full-sized palm tree like you might see on the beaches of Florida. So what palm tree varieties will thrive in your home, and how can you care for them? Here are our top three indoor palm tree recommendations and how to keep them happy and healthy.

Studio Light and Shade/Shutterstock

Parlor palm

The parlor palm is an excellent indoor palm. It’s midsized, with a mature height between two and six feet tall. It enjoys bright, indirect light, making it an excellent choice for rooms that are moderately well lit. It can tolerate some shade, but direct sunlight can result in sunburnt leaves. The parlor palm likes moderate watering, and is sensitive to overwatering, so make sure the soil is able to dry out between waterings.

Recommended Videos

This palm is also quite visually appealing, growing in small clumps with trunks that resemble bamboo. Although they don’t typically bloom indoors, if you move your parlor palm outdoors during spring, you may be in for a treat! However, be sure all frost has passed before you do so! These palms are not at all cold tolerant, and shouldn’t be exposed to temperatures below 50° F.

Related

The leaves are nontoxic, to people and pets, so you don’t need to worry if you have small children or pets that like to chew on plants. Plant your palm in a peaty potting mix, give it a little slow-release fertilizer in spring to encourage growth, and you should do just fine. This palm is not picky and is great for first-time plant owners.

A small sago palm in a pot designed to resemble a wicker basket. It sits on a table of light wood, next to a bookshelf of the same wood. The wall behind it has a dacorative pink, blue, and white triangular pattern.
Africa Studio / Shutterstock

Sago palm

Sago palms or cycus revoluta, are an excellent option if you don’t have room for a larger or midsized palm at the moment, as they grow extremely slowly, especially in containers. While their full size can be as tall as 15 feet, it can take several decades to reach that height, giving you plenty of time to adjust, repot, or rehome your palm.

They are slightly trickier to care for than the other palms on this list, though. For starters, this palm enjoys bright indirect light, and, while it can tolerate a little bit of shade, it can develop problems if left in the shade for too long.

Sagos are somewhat drought tolerant and certainly handle underwatering with more grace than overwatering. Make sure their potting soil is well draining, and let the soil dry between waterings.

Sago palms don’t have any chronic severe problems with pests,but can become home to scale bugs and spider mites in areas of low humidity or low airflow. In addition, some gardeners become concerned about yellowing leaves. Old, dying leaves turn yellow naturally, and, once dry, can be removed. However, if young leaves are turning yellow, it is likely caused by overwatering.

Two kentia palms, one in a black pot, one in a white pot, against a white background
Alen Kadr/Shutterstock

Kentia palm

If you’re looking for a palm that is more tolerant than other palms, or even other houseplants in general, the kentia palm is the palm for you. This palm has the same classic look as any other palm, with long frond-like leaves, and can grow to a height of 12 feet tall, although it typically doesn’t reach its full height indoors. However, it is much more shade tolerant than other palms, making it a great fit for areas that palms wouldn’t normally thrive in.

Kentia palms, while not thoroughly cold resistant, are more cold tolerant than most other palm varieties, as well. In addition, they have beautiful flowers and bloom in winter, making them a wonderful way to brighten up an area while other houseplants are dormant.

Parlor palms, sago palms, and kentia palms are all excellent indoor palms. Which one is right for you is up to you to decide! If you’d like a stately palm to stand in a bright room, then the parlor palm is what you need. Want something smaller, slower growing, and a little more modern looking? Go with the sago! Do you need a plant that’s capable of surviving and thriving where others fail? Then the kentia palm is the palm for you! All three of these palms are beautiful and will be sure to add a touch of the tropics to your home.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Cayla Leonard
Cayla Leonard
Contributor
Cayla Leonard is a writer from North Carolina who is passionate about plants.  She enjoys reading and writing fiction and…
6 incredible types of basil for your herb garden
Add a little variety to your garden with one or all of these basil types
Basil plant bathed in sunlight

Herbs are fun to grow and useful to have around, both for flavoring meals and for keeping certain pests away. Basil is one of the most popular herbs, and for good reason. This tasty herb is versatile and easy to grow, both indoors and out. Did you know there’s more than just one type of basil? If you’re planning your next herb garden, here are six types of basil you should consider including to add a little variety to your garden.
Sweet basil

Sweet basil, also called genovese basil, is the most common type of basil, but there’s a reason it’s the classic. Reliable and delicious, sweet basil gives you the basil flavor and look that you’re familiar with. If you’ve grown basil before, it was likely sweet basil. Place your sweet basil in full sun, with some light afternoon shade if it’s outdoors. Water it regularly to keep the plant fresh and healthy, and you can begin harvesting leaves in just a few weeks, as soon as the plant has four sets of leaves. Be sure to leave a few leaves on the plant so it can continue to grow.
Thai lemon basil

Read more
Your complete sago palm maintenance guide
Grow a sago palm to add a tropical flair to your home
A small sago palm in a pot designed to resemble a wicker basket. It sits on a table of light wood, next to a bookshelf of the same wood. The wall behind it has a dacorative pink, blue, and white triangular pattern.

Sago palms may not be true palms, but they are just as gorgeous. However, with these subtropical houseplants, you won’t have the same kind of look offered by those tall trees. Instead, the green fronds grow directly from the trunk without branching out. Sago palm maintenance is fairly simple, relying mostly on proper growing conditions. Adding this lovely houseplant to your collection is an excellent way to bring the tropics to your home. If you want to grow your own today, this guide will explain everything you need to know to help it thrive!
Care requirements for your sago palm

Because they’re native to tropical regions, sago palms prefer to be in warm, humid environments. This is why, for the most part, they’re grown as houseplants outside of these areas. Sago palms grown indoors should be protected from any drafts or air flowing from heating and AC units as the extreme shift in temperature can cause damage.
Light
Sago palms prefer bright, indirect lighting and shouldn’t be placed in direct sunlight. Direct lighting, especially on hot summer days, can cause sunburn damage and result in wilting leaves. As a houseplant, sago palms will favor east-, west-, and south-facing windows so long as they receive a lot of lighting throughout the day. Keep in mind that too much shade will also cause adverse effects, most noticeably spare foliage.
Soil
Like most houseplants, sago palms need only well-draining soil (and of course, a pot with a drainage hole for excess water to escape through)! There are potting mixes made specifically for palms grown in containers, and although the sago palm isn’t a true palm, this should do the trick.
Water
As a tropical plant, sago palms prefer moderately moist soils. They can tolerate some drought, but not very well. Proper sago palm maintenance requires watering the plant whenever the soil is dry to touch; however, be mindful of how much you’re watering to avoid soggy soil and leaving your plant susceptible to root rot.
Diseases and pests to be aware of

Read more
6 gorgeous fall trees for colorful foliage
Grow these trees for stunning autumn colors
Maple trees with red leaves in front of a building

There are many things that make fall an incredible season. The weather begins to cool off, seasonal foods like pumpkins and hot chocolate come back, and of course, the trees display gorgeous fall colors. If you want to bring these colors to your home, you can plant any deciduous tree. Which ones give you the best, brightest, and most striking colors, though? This guide to fall trees will help you choose the best autumn trees for your yard or garden. From towering aspens to small serviceberries, here are our favorite fall trees.
Maple

Maple trees are perhaps best known for two things -- delicious maple syrup and brilliant fall colors. Depending on the size and color you’re looking for, there are a few popular types of maple trees to choose from. Japanese maple trees are smaller and tend to be a darker burgundy red in fall. Sugar maples are a little more orange with some red highlights, while red maples are, as you might expect, bright red. Both sugar maples and red maples can grow quite tall. While care can vary slightly between species, in general, you’ll want a space in full sun or light shade, well-draining soil, and plenty of room to grow.
Ginkgo

Read more