Mature Howea forsteriana in Florida

[Zeeth]

I ran across this video of this stunning kentia palm in Central Florida. It's got about 17 feet of trunk, which is really spectacular for a Florida grown kentia! Check it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr1AxfaLnwY

[Mike Evans]

Wow, good to see this growing in Central FL with lots of Sun. Does not look like any of the leaves are burnt. I have a number of them growing in the garden, but all are in the shade. Thanks for posting.

[PalmatierMeg]

Good to see. Kentias have been one of my favorite palms and I live in one of the worst climates for them. But my 2 stay dark green in deep shade in my jungle. Now the heat & humidity of summer are over they should be happy for a few months.

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Looks happy that's for sure !

Troy

[KennyRE317]

  On 11/10/2013 at 3:44 PM, Mike Evans said:

Wow, good to see this growing in Central FL with lots of Sun. Does not look like any of the leaves are burnt. I have a number of them growing in the garden, but all are in the shade. Thanks for posting.

Out here they will take full 100% sun even at a fairly young age, it just takes a couple of seasons and lots of water. My neighbor has some small ones that are in full sun and much smaller than mine and mine are very burnt

[sarasota alex]

There are dozen Kentias with several feet of trunk growing on the University of Miami campus in Coral Gables. All in shade however. I did see one that emerged into full sun and it looks toasted.

So the palm Keith posted is truly remarkable.

[Tropicgardener]

They will tolerate a reasonable amount of heat and humidity........you do see the odd one around here growing well in the shade but they do fry in the sun.....Some of the other cool climate palms don't do as well here.

[akamu]

great video

[Mandrew968]

There is at least one South Florida grower who not only grows Howeas but also grows the seed his set locally and then raises those up for sale. I just went to a garden where there were more than a dozen Howeas in full sun and looking good and green--the grower said it's not easy though--he has to constantly spray them with... well I don't remember what he said he sprays them with, but it wasn't easy I recall him saying.