8 Types of Palm Plants to Grow Indoors

The majesty palm (Ravenea rivularis) has two positive qualities that make it an ideal palm that will grow indoors: It is very shade tolerant, and it is a slow grower. However, you must be aware of two drawbacks of this palm: It needs constant moisture and humidity, and it will outgrow an indoor space over time. If you can keep your majesty palm in a reasonably moist area, such as the kitchen or bathroom, then you can look forward to cultivating a graceful stand of dark green fronds that will add life to an empty corner of your home.

• Light: Bright, indirect light for the entire day
• Water: Consistently moist soil
• Color Varieties: Bright green to dark green leaves

Palm Care

Family: Arecaceae
Common Name: Cat Palm, Parlor Palm, Bamboo Palm, Chinese Fan Palm, Lady Palm, Spindle Palm
Botanical Name: Chamaedorea cataractarum, Chamaedorea elegans, Chamaedorea seifrizii, Hyophorbe verschaffeltii, Rhapis excelsa,

Palm trees inside your home not only soften any interior, but they cast a sense of calm and relaxation unlike any other indoor plant – think leisurely vacations at the beach! You might not be sure if you have the right conditions to bring the tropics into your living space, but you might be surprised to learn that quite a few palms will thrive indoors! Remember that specific species will have slightly different care requirements, so it’s essential to properly research each type to care for them. Short on time? Here are some universal care requirements that will help you keep them thriving!

Light

Shower your palms with as much indirect light as possible! They will grow faster and stay green and vibrant when they have access to at least 6 hours of very bright indirect sunlight each day. Pygmy Date Palm loves bright light and can be acclimated to direct sunlight over a few days! Some palms like the Parlor Palm and Kentia Palm can live in areas with low light, but all palms prefer as much as they can get! Avoid placing them in the sun’s direct rays, especially in the summer when the sun’s rays are intense. You can still have palms in your home if you have a light-challenged space. The caveat is that they will not grow fast or large, but the good news is that you won’t have to water them as much!

Water

Palms are thirsty plants! They have a lot of leaf surface area, and they transpire moisture throughout the day; and they also have fibrous roots that are constantly absorbing moisture from the soil. High temperatures can also cause the soil to dry out fast. A good rule of thumb is to water your palms when the soil is dry ½ way down the root ball. Depending on the environment, you might need to water once a week or every other day. Keep an eye out for dry soil and water the soil slowly to give the soil time to absorb the moisture. Soak all soil areas evenly and ensure that all the water drains from the pot. The roots should never sit in a puddle of water as this will cause root rot.

Soil

Palms. like Cat Palms, love good drainage and a soil mixture containing pumice, perlite, or wood chips to provide the drainage they need! Most bagged potting soils will be adequate for transplanting your palms. Consider mixing in cactus potting soil to help with drainage. If you decide to transplant your palms (we do not recommend transplanting your new plants for at least 3-6 months after receiving them), make sure you do not damage the roots.

Temperature

The ideal temperatures for your palms are between 70-80°F – they like it hot! The warmer it is, the more likely they will continue to grow but beware of extreme periods of heat as this can dry out the soil very quickly! It is good to move it to a shady spot during heat waves to prevent excessive moisture loss! If you keep your palms (or are considering) outside, make sure you bring it back inside before the nighttime temperatures drop below 50°F. If you keep it inside and the temperatures are over 75°F, ensure good air circulation around your plant. Stagnant air can be a breeding ground for bacteria and pests.

Humidity

Palms love moist air. If you can keep the humidity levels over 50% in the air space around it, all should be fine! Leaves that look brown around the edges are a good (or not so good) indication that your humidity levels are low! Learn how to increase the humidity for your indoor plants!

Fertilizer

Yes, you should fertilize your Palms! Feed them a complete liquid fertilizer diluted to ¼ strength once a week. We recommend watering them first before you use a diluted liquid fertilizer. You can apply slow-release fertilizers or nutrient-rich compost at the beginning of the growing season! If you use a granular or compost fertilizer, water the plant after fertilizing it. Palms need extra potassium, and micro-nutrients when they are actively growing. There are special fertilizers for palms in the market, and you may need to use fertilizers with these added nutrients if you notice browning on the frond tips!

Growth Rate

Palms are fast-growing, and some can get quite large if grown in favorable environments (see above instructions!). They can reach 12’+ indoors depending on the light they receive. You cannot cut the top portion of the palms off as they grow from the tippy top. The best way to keep your palms from getting too tall is to keep them root-bound and move them away from very bright indirect light!

Pet Friend or Foe

The palms in this article are non-toxic to pets! Friend (Sago, Formosa, Fishtail, and Cardboard Palms are toxic.)

Pro Tips

1. Rotate your palms to give all sides equal access to the light.

2. Keep your palms away from walkways, door, or heavily trafficked areas as the leaves can be damaged when they are brushed against.

3. If your plant isn’t thriving, try to flush the soil of possible salt and mineral build-up. Place the potted plant under running water for a few minutes as this will help leach out the excess minerals and salts!

4. Transplant your palm every year to freshen up the soil and encourage it to grow larger. This is a great time to add any needed soil amendments.

5. Palms rarely flower indoors, sorry!

6. Palms will naturally shed leaves. Remove any brown lower leaves by pulling them off when loose!

8 Types of Palm Plants to Grow Indoors

Jamie McIntosh has written about gardening and special occasion flowers for the Spruce since 2011. She has more than 20 years of experience caring for flowers and plants. She was a feature writer for Organic Gardening at Suite101, where she won awards for her writing.

Debra LaGattuta is a Master Gardener with 30+ years of experience in perennial and flowering plants, container gardening, and raised bed vegetable gardening. She is a lead gardener in a Plant-A-Row, which is a program that offers thousands of pounds of organically-grown vegetables to local food banks. Debra is a member of The Spruce Garden Review Board.

Perhaps because of their association with tropical environments, indoor palm plants can elicit feelings of peace and relaxation like no other houseplant can. Palms are good indoor plants if you can provide the proper conditions for them. So indoor palm plant identification is key to know what your exact species needs.

Several types of indoor palm trees, including the areca palm and parlor palm, tolerate most household environments quite well. But there are some important factors to consider about indoor palm plant care.

Indoor Palm Plant Care Tips

How you care for an indoor palm plant is similar to many other houseplants that come from the tropics. Most types of indoor palm trees like the same conditions we find comfortable: warm temperatures, average humidity, and moderate light. Some indoor palm plants can even tolerate low light, though this usually will result in weaker growth.

Palms are generally slow-growing and need minimal pruning to clean up dead and broken fronds. They’ll require a quality palm fertilizer to help maintain lush growth. And you must watch out for common houseplant pests, such as spider mites and scale.

Here are eight of the easiest palms to grow indoors to add a breezy, tropical feel to your home.

Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis)

The star-shaped leaves of Livistona chinensis set it apart from other palms with the more classic feathery fronds. While it’s slow-growing, this palm species’ mature height can reach 15 feet or greater. So it’s worth seeking out the subglobosa dwarf cultivar if you plan on growing the palm indoors. Chinese fan palms do well in bright light, but younger plants can tolerate shady locations. Water when the top of the soil feels dry. Choose a large pot that will accommodate the long taproot that the Chinese fan palm produces. And feed this palm once a year in the spring with a slow-release fertilizer.

• Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates some shade
• Water: Moderately moist soil
• Color Varieties: Emerald green foliage

Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)

Also known as the bamboo palm, the areca palm (Dypsis lutescens) is one of the easiest palms to grow indoors thanks to its tolerance for low light. It produces large, feathery green fronds that have a gentle curve. The areca palm prefers a moderate amount of water. Plant your areca palm in fertile soil, and give it a monthly fertilizer application to maintain a lush look.

• Light: Sun or shade but looks its best in bright, indirect light
• Water: Moderately moist soil
• Color Varieties: Yellow-green stems and light green leaves

Majesty Palm (Ravenea rivularis)

The majesty palm (Ravenea rivularis) has two positive qualities that make it an ideal palm that will grow indoors: It is very shade tolerant, and it is a slow grower. However, you must be aware of two drawbacks of this palm: It needs constant moisture and humidity, and it will outgrow an indoor space over time. If you can keep your majesty palm in a reasonably moist area, such as the kitchen or bathroom, then you can look forward to cultivating a graceful stand of dark green fronds that will add life to an empty corner of your home.

• Light: Bright, indirect light for the entire day
• Water: Consistently moist soil
• Color Varieties: Bright green to dark green leaves

Cascade Palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum)

As opposed to some palm trees that feature a central trunk, Chamaedorea cataractarum is a very full palm with clumps of fronds eventually reaching 6 feet tall. You’ll be able to separate mature clumps, giving you new plant material to propagate by division. In its native habitat, the cascade palm thrives along streams and in wet lowlands, so you must irrigate it frequently when growing it indoors. Fortunately for indoor growth, cascade palms are understory plants, so they can tolerate limited light.

• Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates shade; avoid direct sunlight
• Water: Consistently moist soil
• Color Varieties: Dark green leaves

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

As the name suggests, the parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) is one of the easiest palms to grow indoors. It grows in average indoor light (or even artificial light) and typical room temperatures. And it requires no pruning other than an occasional tidying of dead branches. Parlor palms flourish in above-average humidity. Be aware they might attract spider mites if conditions are very dry.

• Light: Indirect light; avoid direct sun
• Water: Consistently moist soil
• Color Varieties: Light green leaves

Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

Indoor palm plant identification should be fairly easy for the ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata), with its short, sturdy trunk and gracefully arching leaves. In fact, this plant is not a true palm at all but rather a succulent. The swollen trunk base isn’t just ornamental; it functions as a water reservoir for the plant, making it very drought tolerant. Give your ponytail palm a sunny location for optimal plant health. Moreover, it’s fine for the ponytail palm to become pot bound; in fact, this can keep growth manageable for a tabletop specimen.

• Light: Full sun; tolerates bright, indirect light
• Water: Moderately moist soil, will tolerate dry conditions
• Color Varieties: Light green leaves

Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta)

If the sago palm is your first introduction to the world of indoor palm plants, you’re in for a treat. Stiff fronds grow in an upright habit from a short, shaggy trunk that resembles a pineapple. This plant (which is not a true palm but more closely related to conifers) is very slow-growing. Choose an indoor location that receives filtered sun for four to six hours per day. The sago palm needs regular and consistent moisture, but make sure the soil surface is nearly dry between water applications.

• Light: Full sun or bright, indirect light; tolerates some shade
• Water: Moderately moist soil
• Color Varieties: Light green leaves

Warning

The sago palm is toxic to humans and pets. So be mindful about its placement as a houseplant if you have kids or animals.

Yucca Palm (Yucca elephantipes)

Indoor palm plant identification is very important when it comes to yucca palms. Yucca aloifolia, also known as the Spanish bayonet, has razor-sharp leaves and belongs outdoors. Yucca elephantipes is the spineless yucca palm, and while its leaves do have a pointy tip, the plant is unlikely to draw blood like its spiny cousin. You might also see the indoor yucca palm sold under the name “stick yucca.” Tough strappy green leaves emerge from an attractive trunk on the yucca palm. The plants are very drought tolerant and grow in full sun or part shade.

• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Water: Moderately moist soil
• Color Varieties: Light green to bluish-green

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Chamaedorea Elegans. North Carolina State University.
2. Cycas revoluta. NC State Extension.
3. Sago Palm. ASPCA.