Indoor palms bring a calm, tropical feel to any room without demanding the kind of attention that many tropical plants do. They work in offices, living rooms, and bedrooms, and the best species tolerate the light and humidity levels most homes provide. The challenge is knowing which palm is right for your space, because the four species you will find in most plant stores behave very differently from each other.
This guide covers the four indoor palms worth knowing — parlour, areca, majesty, and kentia — with specific care instructions for each and a section on where to buy them online.
The Four Best Indoor Palm Plants
Walk into any plant shop and you will find half a dozen palm species competing for your attention. Most are either difficult to keep alive indoors or outgrow a typical living room within a couple of years. These four are the ones that work long-term:
- Parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans) — the most shade-tolerant option and the easiest to keep healthy
- Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens) — fast-growing with lush, feathery fronds; best for bright rooms
- Majesty palm (Ravenea rivularis) — dramatic and fast-growing, but more demanding about light and humidity
- Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) — slow-growing, tolerant, long-lived; the premium choice for low-maintenance elegance
All four are listed as non-toxic to dogs and cats by the ASPCA — a useful point if you have pets sharing your space.
Parlour Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
The parlour palm earns its name from the Victorian parlours where it thrived in dim, gas-lit rooms. It is still the best choice for low-light spaces — north-facing rooms, offices without direct windows, corners far from any natural light source. Its tolerance for neglect and poor conditions makes it the most forgiving of the four.
Light
Bright indirect light is ideal, but parlour palm handles low light better than almost any other palm. It slows down in dimmer conditions, but it will not drop fronds or die back. Keep it away from direct sun, which scorches the leaves.
Water and Humidity
Water when the top inch of soil dries out, roughly every 7 to 10 days in a warm room. Reduce frequency in winter. This palm does not need the high humidity that some species demand, making it well-suited to centrally heated homes. Occasional misting helps if the air is particularly dry, but it is not essential.
Size and Growth Rate
Parlour palms grow slowly, reaching 4 to 6 feet at full indoor maturity over several years. That slow growth is a practical advantage: the plant stays manageable and rarely needs repotting. A 10-inch pot will hold a parlour palm for 2 to 3 years without crowding.
Common Problems
Brown tips are the most common complaint, usually caused by dry air or irregular watering. Spider mites can appear in very dry conditions. If you spot fine webbing on the undersides of fronds, increase humidity and wipe the leaves with a damp cloth. Parlour palm is also a strong performer in shaded spots alongside the other species in our guide to the best low-light indoor plants.
Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
The areca palm is one of the most popular indoor palms worldwide. Clusters of feathery fronds create an instant tropical effect, and the plant grows fast enough that you see visible progress each growing season. It works best in bright rooms.
Light
Areca palms need bright indirect light to thrive. They will tolerate lower light for short periods, but growth slows significantly and the fronds fade to a paler shade. Place them within a few feet of a south- or west-facing window. Direct summer sun through glass scorches the fronds.
Water and Humidity
Keep the soil consistently moist during the growing season (spring through early fall), but never waterlogged. Let the top inch dry between waterings. Areca palms are more sensitive to drought than parlour palms — going too dry causes yellowing fronds that will not recover. They prefer humidity around 50 to 60 percent, so a humidifier or regular misting benefits them in heated or air-conditioned rooms.
Size and Growth Rate
Areca palms are the fastest growers of the four, putting on 6 to 10 inches per year in good conditions. They can reach 6 to 8 feet indoors. The cane-like stems grow in clusters from the base, so the plant gets wider as well as taller over time.
Common Problems
Yellowing fronds signal either overwatering or insufficient light. If fronds yellow from the base upward, check for root rot by removing the plant from its pot — healthy roots are white or tan; rotting roots are dark and mushy. Brown tips usually indicate low humidity. Scale insects occasionally appear on the stems; remove them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.
Majesty Palm (Ravenea rivularis)
The majesty palm is the most dramatic of the four — broad arching fronds that span several feet across, with a bold architectural presence. It is also the most demanding. Majesty palms are native to humid riverbanks in Madagascar, and they make those requirements known indoors. Get the conditions right and it is a striking plant. Get them wrong and it becomes a slow struggle.
Light
Majesty palms need bright light, at least 6 hours per day, ideally from a spot directly beside a south or west-facing window. Unlike parlour palms, these will not adapt to low light. Insufficient light is the most common reason majesty palms decline indoors.
Water and Humidity
Keep the soil evenly moist. Majesty palms grow near water in their native habitat, so they tolerate slightly damper conditions than the other three species. High humidity is important — aim for 60 percent or higher. In dry homes, running a humidifier nearby makes a material difference. Grouping it with other plants creates a locally more humid microclimate.
Size and Growth Rate
Majesty palms can reach 10 feet or more indoors with good conditions, making them one of the larger options on this list. They grow faster than parlour or kentia palms but slower than arecas. Consider room height before buying — a mature majesty palm will eventually reach an 8-foot ceiling. For equally tall but less demanding alternatives, the plants in our indoor tree plants guide are worth considering.
Common Problems
Yellow fronds are nearly universal with majesty palms kept indoors, usually signaling insufficient light, irregular watering, or both. Spider mites thrive in the warm, dry conditions typical of most homes; check the undersides of fronds regularly. Majesty palm is worth choosing only if you can consistently meet its care requirements.
Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana)
Kentia palms have furnished hotel lobbies, historic homes, and upscale offices for over a century. The arching dark green fronds are more refined than the areca palms feathery clusters, and the plant holds up well in conditions that would stress a more demanding species. It is not cheap, but it earns its price through longevity and low maintenance.
Light
Kentia palms adapt to a wide range of light conditions, from bright indirect light down to quite low light. They are second only to parlour palms in shade tolerance among indoor palms. They grow faster and look better with more light, but they will not decline in a darker corner the way an areca would.
Water and Humidity
Let the top 2 inches of soil dry before watering again. Overwatering is more damaging than underwatering with this species. Kentia palms handle normal household humidity without needing misting or humidifiers, though they benefit from better humidity when available.
Size and Growth Rate
Kentia palms are among the slowest growers on this list. A 4-foot plant takes years to reach 6 to 8 feet. That slow growth makes them ideal for spaces where you want a plant to stay manageable for a long time, and it explains their higher price — a large, mature kentia palm represents years of cultivation.
Common Problems
Brown tips are common and largely cosmetic — trim them with clean scissors if they bother you. Root rot from overwatering is the main serious risk. Scale insects occasionally appear on the stems; treat promptly with neem oil or rubbing alcohol before they spread. Overall, kentia palms are less prone to problems than the other three species when given reasonable care.
General Indoor Palm Care
These practices apply across all four species:
Repot carefully. Palms dislike having their roots disturbed. Only repot when the plant is clearly root-bound — roots emerging from drainage holes or circling the base of the pot. Go up one pot size, not two. Spring is the best time.
Feed during the growing season. A balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength, applied monthly from April through September, is sufficient. Do not fertilize in fall or winter — excess fertilizer salts build up in the soil when the plant is not actively growing.
Flush the soil periodically. Every few months, water the plant until water runs freely from the drainage holes, then let it drain fully. This removes fertilizer salt buildup that causes brown tips over time.
Clean the fronds. Dust accumulates on broad palm fronds and reduces photosynthesis. Wipe them down with a damp cloth every few weeks.
Remove only dead fronds. Cut back only fronds that are fully brown and dry. Removing green fronds stresses the plant without encouraging new growth.
For a broader look at building a low-maintenance indoor plant collection, the full plant guides on Urban Grown Home cover more than 50 species with the same level of care detail.
Where to Buy Indoor Palm Plants Online
All four palms are available from online plant retailers that ship to your door. Delivery quality varies — look for retailers with reviews specifically mentioning arrival condition and packaging quality.
The Sill stocks parlour palms and areca palms regularly, with plants shipped in packaging designed to minimize transit stress. They offer a 30-day guarantee on new plants.
Bloomscape ships larger specimens, including areca and majesty palms in 10-inch pots, directly from Florida greenhouses. Plants arrive more established and recover faster from transit than smaller starter sizes.
Lively Root carries all four species with specific size options so you can choose a plant already at a useful height rather than starting from a small nursery pot.
Etsy plant shops are worth checking for kentia palms specifically. Kentia palms are slow to propagate commercially, making large specimens expensive at major retailers. Individual growers on Etsy often offer better prices on mid-sized plants, and many sellers have detailed feedback records for shipping quality.
When ordering any indoor palm, shipping in spring or early fall is preferable. Extreme heat in summer and cold temperatures in winter increase transit stress. Most retailers will not ship to locations experiencing temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Indoor Palm Is Easiest to Keep Alive?
Parlour palm is the most forgiving. It tolerates low light, irregular watering, and dry air better than areca, majesty, or kentia palms. For beginners or anyone with an inconsistent care routine, it is the safest choice.
Are Indoor Palm Plants Safe for Cats and Dogs?
Yes — all four palms covered in this guide (parlour, areca, majesty, and kentia) are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA. They are a solid choice for pet-friendly households looking for a larger houseplant.
Why Are My Palm Plant Leaves Turning Yellow?
Yellow fronds usually signal one of three issues: too little light, overwatering, or fertilizer salt buildup in the soil. Check light conditions first — palms in low light consistently struggle. If light is adequate, examine the watering pattern and consider flushing the soil to remove salt accumulation.
How Often Should I Water an Indoor Palm?
It depends on the species. Parlour palms and kentia palms prefer to dry out slightly between waterings — every 10 to 14 days in a typical indoor environment. Areca and majesty palms prefer more consistent moisture — every 7 to 10 days. Check soil moisture before watering rather than following a fixed schedule.
Why Are the Tips of My Palm Leaves Brown?
Brown tips are common and usually cosmetic. The most frequent causes are low humidity, fluoride in tap water, or fertilizer salt buildup. Switching to filtered or rainwater, flushing the soil periodically, and misting the fronds in dry conditions will reduce them. Trim the brown portions with clean scissors for a neater appearance.
Can Indoor Palms Grow in Low Light?
Parlour palm and kentia palm are the most shade-tolerant options. Both manage in low-light rooms, though growth slows considerably. Areca and majesty palms need brighter conditions to stay healthy long-term.