The grand old Howea fosteriana

[happypalms]

The Howea fosteriana it needs no introduction, it speaks for itself. Theres even a couple of variegated ones in the garden! 

[donalt]

I love this palm and wish it did better in hot, humid Florida. I recently purchased a 7 gallon quadruple and found a mostly shaded spot in my yard. I've acclimated it to the location and will plant it soon. Fingers crossed!!

[happypalms]

29 minutes ago, donalt said:

I love this palm and wish it did better in hot, humid Florida. I recently purchased a 7 gallon quadruple and found a mostly shaded spot in my yard. I've acclimated it to the location and will plant it soon. Fingers crossed!!

They definitely don’t like the hot humid conditions in Australia at all, they most certainly won’t grow in cairns Australia that’s for sure. They seem to like a cool period in there season resting up a bit in the cool weather. They will grow in full sun in my climate and I see many in my area planted in a lot of places. One beautiful palm! 

[SeanK]

If they can't grow in Cairns or Townsville, it must be as you say, they need a cooler climate. With your more seasonal temps, it gives the palm a chance to recover from the heat of February.

[happypalms]

13 hours ago, SeanK said:

If they can't grow in Cairns or Townsville, it must be as you say, they need a cooler climate. With your more seasonal temps, it gives the palm a chance to recover from the heat of February.

They tolerate humidity in my area over summer, I think it’s the constant high temperatures and very consistent humidity up north. After all there natural habitat is a island in the South Pacific Ocean.

[donalt]

wish me luck! at least I have the brutal sun situation under control.....can't do much about humidity. still, I've seen some make it to good size in my area (orlando/central florida/usa) but they exclusively are all sun protected.

[donalt]

took this pic from a boat in Newport California.....when they are in their element, they can become exquisite palms!

[Rivera]

For me, it doesn't get much better than Howea forsteriana. A more natural fit for my immediate coastal conditions than belmoreana, though I'm growing both here. 

Quite at home in calcareous soils, takes wind, salt, persistently overcast weather, a bit of chill and accepts dryness when it must better than many. It's tidy too. All those qualities with a beautiful stem and leaves and an elegant way of leaning this way or that. Not colorful like a Dypsis, but perfectly green. 

Just needs some water and a bit of nutrients provided here and it's good to go. A common palm, and a worthy grow for palm enthusiasts and landscapers alike. I wouldn't quite call them common here in San Francisco, but there are many of them throughout the city, some begrudgingly enduring neglectful situations and occasionally a duo or trio getting the care they deserve. 

[Jim in Los Altos]

When I first started planting Howea in the early 2000’s I wasn’t sure they’d even be long term plantings in the garden but, lo and behold, they are and continue to be. I can’t imagine the garden without them. 
 

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, donalt said:

wish me luck! at least I have the brutal sun situation under control.....can't do much about humidity. still, I've seen some make it to good size in my area (orlando/central florida/usa) but they exclusively are all sun protected.

Just plant them, don’t hold back and if all goes well you will glad you did plant them, reasonably fast paced growing in comparison to some other palms. They take a long time to trunk so you get a lot of palm before they decide to go upwards.

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, donalt said:

took this pic from a boat in Newport California.....when they are in their element, they can become exquisite palms!

That’s a great picture with the flag and the palms, very patriotic I like it!

[happypalms]

56 minutes ago, Rivera said:

For me, it doesn't get much better than Howea forsteriana. A more natural fit for my immediate coastal conditions than belmoreana, though I'm growing both here. 

Quite at home in calcareous soils, takes wind, salt, persistently overcast weather, a bit of chill and accepts dryness when it must better than many. It's tidy too. All those qualities with a beautiful stem and leaves and an elegant way of leaning this way or that. Not colorful like a Dypsis, but perfectly green. 

Just needs some water and a bit of nutrients provided here and it's good to go. A common palm, and a worthy grow for palm enthusiasts and landscapers alike. I wouldn't quite call them common here in San Francisco, but there are many of them throughout the city, some begrudgingly enduring neglectful situations and occasionally a duo or trio getting the care they deserve. 

Don’t forget when they seed and are mature you get some nice red seeds with a bit of green and yellow. They make fantastic container plants in the old oak wine barrel that’s been cut in half, and one with a trunk in that barrel looks amazing. One palm that has stood the test of time and proven its worthiness in grace in  many a hallway and courtyard. A true grand old winner!

[happypalms]

12 minutes ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

When I first started planting Howea in the early 2000’s I wasn’t sure they’d even be long term plantings in the garden but, lo and behold, they are and continue to be. I can’t imagine the garden without them. 
 

When I first started planting my property I purchased 30 good sized ones in 400mm containers from a friend he said have them, i insisted he take at least $250 dollars for them I found out later he gave my wife the money back. I was so proud to start to plant them out. Now I have some fantastic palms in my garden. Iam still growing a few Howea to plant out in the garden but mostly bellmooreanas. 

[Jim in Los Altos]

Can’t dispute the colorful trunks in them as well. This one receives half day sun. 
 

[happypalms]

6 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

Can’t dispute the colorful trunks in them as well. This one receives half day sun. 
 

Nice lime colour in that one! 

[Tassie_Troy1971]

On 7/25/2025 at 5:27 PM, happypalms said:

The Howea fosteriana it needs no introduction, it speaks for itself. Theres even a couple of variegated ones in the garden! 

If I could only have one species of palm in my garden I  would choose Howea forsteriana as they have such a south seas tropical look and are very easy to grow 

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, Tassie_Troy1971 said:

If I could only have one species of palm in my garden I  would choose Howea forsteriana as they have such a south seas tropical look and are very easy to grow 

Just too cold hey, curse those penguins marching across the ice hey. But I dunno you do pretty good in the Hedyscepe department that’s for sure!

[Tassie_Troy1971]

20 minutes ago, happypalms said:

Just too cold hey, curse those penguins marching across the ice hey. But I dunno you do pretty good in the Hedyscepe department that’s for sure!

Oh no howea grow down here like escapees in the ground 

I mean if I had to choose 1 species of palm

 

[happypalms]

3 minutes ago, Tassie_Troy1971 said:

Oh no howea grow down here like escapees in the ground 

I mean if I had to choose 1 species of palm

 

Got any bellmoreana as well in that cold place they call Tasmania?

[Than]

On 7/27/2025 at 1:19 AM, donalt said:

took this pic from a boat in Newport California.....when they are in their element, they can become exquisite palms!

Wow, they are indeed among the most beautiful palms.. their elegance is surreal. I bet these specimens are more than 50 years old. 

Also, I thought they don't like full sun, but I guess that's only true when they are young? I have mine under 40% shade cloth and yet many leaves have been scorched

[happypalms]

30 minutes ago, Than said:

Wow, they are indeed among the most beautiful palms.. their elegance is surreal. I bet these specimens are more than 50 years old. 

Also, I thought they don't like full sun, but I guess that's only true when they are young? I have mine under 40% shade cloth and yet many leaves have been scorched

For Howea sp 70 percent shade cloth is best, 40 percent is just to bright for most palms.

[donalt]

though they are in full sun, the air is quite pleasantly cool. this photo was taken mid summer afternoon and the temperatures were only in the 60sF (about 19C).....

[Rivera]

5 hours ago, Than said:

Wow, they are indeed among the most beautiful palms.. their elegance is surreal. I bet these specimens are more than 50 years old. 

Also, I thought they don't like full sun, but I guess that's only true when they are young? I have mine under 40% shade cloth and yet many leaves have been scorched

Shade is always a good bet, but Howea forsteriana are full sun palms in coastal California and there are many growing in exposed positions. Newport is a beach town, so there's plenty of maritime influence. 

I would've planted mine in more shade if I had it, but my yard is sunny. I only got started in 2020 and I wasn't interested in establishing a whole canopy first for shade palms to grow under. I'm by the ocean in San Francisco, so the air is generally cool and humid.

Shade: 

Part sun:

Full sun:

Can still get a little cooked under open sky, but it just shows a bit of stress on leaf tips. Not burning up leaves or anything. I planted this one out too hastily three years ago and really burned it the first year by placing it here before it was ready for such an exposed spot. It's settled and growing well now, and each leaf shows less stress. Needs a couple years still to show its best self. 

[Than]

@Rivera the million dollar question is: how do their growth rates compare?

@happypalms I put an 80% cloth on top of it first but then I thought I should slowly acclimatize it to the sun, so I replaced it with a 40% one. Cos, one day, in 20 years, if everything goes well, it will reach the full sun anyway, right? 

Also I have read that they grow faster when they get some sun.

[Rivera]

22 minutes ago, Than said:

how do their growth rates compare?

I planted them at different sizes at different times (and got them from different sources), so I can't make a meaningful comparison. 

The largest in full sun is easily the fastest. It's gaining stem girth at a respectable pace and giving me two to three leaves a year since its first year of settling into (and sulking in) it's new sunny position. 

[Jim in Los Altos]

This one gets lots of afternoon sun and has endured some pretty nasty heat waves over the years (100°F plus) with little stress. It started out in bright but full shade and grew into the open sky. Howea forsteriana are pretty durable with time. This one’s approximately 25 years old. 
 

[Rivera]

On the subject of Howea in the sun, this little juvenile transitions to greater exposure under a quick and dirty shade structure extended from the fence. It's an open weave, maybe 30%. This palm is already acclimated to some direct sun, so my wish is to give it just enough coverage to adjust without trauma. 

(@Darold Petty This is one of the Millbrae courtyard seedlings. It got "musical chaired" around a bit and was living in a container before landing in this spot after your last visit.) 

Buried in wire. I avoid leaving anything precious for the pocket gophers to decide. Wire everywhere. 

My wife may have cast a sidelong glance at some plants that have appeared in the garden, but never at a kentia. 

[happypalms]

8 hours ago, Than said:

@Rivera the million dollar question is: how do their growth rates compare?

@happypalms I put an 80% cloth on top of it first but then I thought I should slowly acclimatize it to the sun, so I replaced it with a 40% one. Cos, one day, in 20 years, if everything goes well, it will reach the full sun anyway, right? 

Also I have read that they grow faster when they get some sun.

They are an age thing in growth,sun or shade dappled light. It doesn’t matter they are slow regardless. They will burn if the humidity is low in full, the higher the humidity the more sun a palm will tolerate!

[happypalms]

6 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

This one gets lots of afternoon sun and has endured some pretty nasty heat waves over the years (100°F plus) with little stress. It started out in bright but full shade and grew into the open sky. Howea forsteriana are pretty durable with time. This one’s approximately 25 years old. 
 

That’s about the time it takes for them to set seeds 25 years or more, height doesn’t determine when they become fully mature.  I have seen 8 feet of trunk and seeds setting, there the easy ones to collect! 

[happypalms]

2 hours ago, Rivera said:

On the subject of Howea in the sun, this little juvenile transitions to greater exposure under a quick and dirty shade structure extended from the fence. It's an open weave, maybe 30%. This palm is already acclimated to some direct sun, so my wish is to give it just enough coverage to adjust without trauma. 

(@Darold Petty This is one of the Millbrae courtyard seedlings. It got "musical chaired" around a bit and was living in a container before landing in this spot after your last visit.) 

Buried in wire. I avoid leaving anything precious for the pocket gophers to decide. Wire everywhere. 

My wife may have cast a sidelong glance at some plants that have appeared in the garden, but never at a kentia. 

They really only burn in extreme dry hot  heat and if newly planted from the greenhouse. Your one should be fine. 

[Jim in Los Altos]

3 hours ago, happypalms said:

That’s about the time it takes for them to set seeds 25 years or more, height doesn’t determine when they become fully mature.  I have seen 8 feet of trunk and seeds setting, there the easy ones to collect! 

This one set first set seeds seven years ago and the other one I posted the green trunk of started flowering at twelve years from planting out of a 2 liter pot. When they’re happy, they can start flowering long before reaching 25.  

[Than]

11 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

This one gets lots of afternoon sun and has endured some pretty nasty heat waves over the years (100°F plus) with little stress. It started out in bright but full shade and grew into the open sky. Howea forsteriana are pretty durable with time. This one’s approximately 25 years old. 
 

Wow. Quite fast for Howea standards! Impressive. Dang, one day, I'll cross half the globe and I'll come and visit your garden (with prior permission of course haha). It must be paradise on earth. 

I'll be happy if mine is 30 feet in 10 years from now. Right now it's not even 3 feet, including leaves. 

Here it is right now. It's 8.20 am. You can see the shade cloth above. The soil around it is still wet.