View source for Howea forsteriana

{{SPlantbox
|familia=Arecaceae
|genus=Howea
|species=forsteriana
|common_name=Kentia Palm, Sentry Palm, Paradise Palm, Thatch palm
|habit=palm-cycad
|Max ht box=40
|Max ht metric=ft
|lifespan=perennial
|exposure=sun
|features=evergreen, foliage, houseplant
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Howea forsteriana Lord Howe Island.jpg
|image_width=240
}}
The '''Kentia palm''' or '''Thatch palm''' (''Howea forsteriana'') is [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] to [[Lord Howe Island]]. It is also widely grown on [[Norfolk Island]].  Its "fronds" or [[leaf|leaves]] grow up to 3 metres long.

The species is considered vulnerable by the [[World Conservation Union]]. It is cultivated on Lord Howe Island by collecting wild seeds and [[germination|germinating]] them for export worldwide as an ornamental garden or house plant. The trade in the seeds and seedlings is tightly regulated.

The palm is an elegant plant, and is popular for growing indoors, requiring little light. Out of doors, it prefers a [[tropical]] region but will also grow in a cooler climate, and can tolerate temperatures down to -5 °C, but only for a few hours; normal temperatures should not go below 10°. It grows readily outside in areas such as southern [[Australia]] and northern [[New Zealand]], where it is fairly common in private gardens or as a street tree. In the Northern Hemisphere, it can be grown as far north as SW England, and grows well in the south of [[Spain]] and the southernmost parts of the [[USA]], and will bear [[flower]]s and [[fruit]]. The coasts of the southeastern Azores and Madeira offer similar climates to its original habitat. It is slow growing, but will eventually reach heights of 6 to 18 metres. Under natural conditions, it grows as a solitary tree. Germination of the seeds is erratic.

The closely related [[Belmore sentry palm]] (''Howea belmoreana''), also endemic on Lord Howe Island, is a smaller species to 7 metres tall, found mainly as an [[understory|understorey]] plant in moist [[forest]]s.

{{Inc|
Howea forsteriana, Becc. (Kentia Forsteriana, F. Muell. Grisebdchia Forsteriana, H. Wendl. & Drude). Flat or Thatch-leaf Palm. 
}}

==Cultivation==


===Propagation===


===Pests and diseases===


==Varieties==


==Gallery==

<gallery perrow=5>
Image:Howea forsteriana Palms3.jpg
Image:Endemic Howea forsteriana Palms- Neds Beach,Lord Howe Island.jpg
Image:Upload.png| photo 1
Image:Upload.png| photo 2
Image:Upload.png| photo 3
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

==External links==
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