jungl.

The plant library

Kentia palm

Howea forsteriana

Wants
Medium
Tolerates
Bright direct down to low
Difficulty
2/5
Pets
Safe

Why it wants that

It spends its youth as an understorey palm on a cloudy sub-tropical island, so it is built to make a living in filtered light and to sit out long dim spells without complaint.

Too little light

Very little happens, which is the point of this palm - growth simply slows toward a standstill and the crown thins as old fronds age out faster than new ones open.

Too much

Harsh direct sun bleaches and scorches the fronds; NCSU only states that direct sunlight must be avoided and does not describe the burn, so the visible symptom is UNVERIFIED beyond general leaf scorch.

Find the spot in your home where it thrives