Sentry Palm Howea forsteriana
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Sentry Palm:
- Phonetic Spelling
- HOW-ee-ah for-stair-ee-AH-na
- Description
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Named after William Forster, a Senator from New South Wales, Forster Sentry Palm is a popular houseplant in temperate climates, this slow-growing palm requires little light, however can adapt to sunny locations when planted outdoors. Some sunlight is necessary for the plant to produce its flowers.
As long as direct sunlight is avoided, it can withstand outdoor temperatures up to100 degrees Fahrenheit. Although somewhat tolerant to heat, humidity and rainfall, this plant has a better chance of success in areas where the extremes are not reached. It is also moderately tolerant of salt spray and drought.
These palms are well suited to containers and have a track record for surviving low light, dust, central heating, rough handling, drought, and general neglect. The Kentia Palm may be planted near a sidewalk, house or fence. Due to their large size, they make a good focal point in an interior or exterior landscape. Although sometimes sold in groups within one large pot, this is not a "suckering" palm.
This slow growing plant grows more quickly when planted individually rather than part of a grouping.
Its single trunk is prominently ringed with scars of its shed fronds. Mature trees will have a trunk that is slightly swollen at its base.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The most serious issue for this palm is Potassium deficiency. Necrosis (yellowing or wilting) can appear of the leaf tips on older leaves. Younger leaves can suffer from manganese deficiency, which will appear as leaflet tip necrosis on the basal leaflets. Boron deficiency can cause stunted or distorted new leaves.
Fungal leaf spot, as well as spider mites, mealybugs and scale insects are common issues.
When planting in a container, choose one that has sufficient room for this plant to continue to grow. Palms do not like to be repotted. If transplanting to a larger container is found to be necessary, caution should be used in order to protect its roots.
Watering should be moderate, overwatering as well as extended dryness can damage this plant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Howea
- Species:
- forsteriana
- Family:
- Arecaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Container or indoor plant.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Howe Island, near Australia and New Zealand
- Distribution:
- Coastal and low elevations
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Easy to Grow
- Textural
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The oval-shaped fruits will appear when the tree has reached approximately 15 years old. When ripened, they will be a reddish-brown and pointed at each end.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Inflorescence is about 3.5 feet long with flowers on 3-7 spikes, fused at their bases. Both male and female flowers are present in the same inflorescence. They will appear below the leaves.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves (fronds) are feather-shaped, arching, up to 10-12 feet long, with drooping leaflets. Each leaf can have up to 90 leaflets that bend in a downward fashion. Leaflets are dark green on the upper side and a lighter green on the underside and 2 1/2' long and 2" wide.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Green
- Bark Description:
- Its bark is dark green on young plants, that turns brown as the tree ages.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity
