Types of Indoor Palm Trees

Why Indoor Palm Trees?

Why not bring a tropical aura right into your home? Adding your own touch of outdoor palmy green freshness! Few indoor trees are more perfect than potted palms!

They help purify the air, by recycling Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), turning it into fresh oxygen! Because that's what they exhale: O₂. The opposite of what your body does.

You can pick out what works for you, from many shapes and sizes. That makes it easier to find just the right palm tree for your own living space. That fits your lifestyle! That suits your Palm Chic Decor.

See which palms we recommend. 

See how they'll fit with your ideas for types of indoor palm trees you'd like.

Mission: Palm Trees Update

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1. Different Types of Palm Plants - You Can Sort Them for ID

   
   Different types of palm plants can be confusing. We help you sort them out. Helping to solve the palm identification problem!

   Take Me to the Palms>

2. Types of Indoor Palms - Natural Air Cleaners & Home Beautifiers

   
   Many types of indoor palms are suited for homes. Tropicalizing your surroundings, even thru cold winters. Added benefit is making clean O2, while eating up CO2.

   Take Me to the Palms>

What Types of Indoor Palm Trees are Best?

Typically you want to think of indoor types of palm trees as being a size you can put in a planter. And that size should be suitable for being indoors. That fits your particular living space.

Liking This Stunner?!

Guide to Different Types of Indoor Palm Trees

We'll show you suggested types of indoor palms that are suitable for potting. How they'll do inside, what care these potted palms need, their size, and any other tips. All you should need for care and for help with Indoor Palm Plant Identification.

But if you still have questions, you can always Contact Us. Most likely we can get you an answer.

See our suggestions...

Kentia Palm

The Kentia Palm's scientific name is Howea forsteriana. Also called Sentry Palm.

It's quite popular as a potted palm tree. Known to easily be long lived & tolerate indoor conditions. It doesn't like lots of sunlight making it quite suitable for indoors!

SIZING

• Probably best in a large room, as its leaf span reaches up to 6' long!

1. Pinnate leaflets curve gracefully down from the stem. Dark green above, light green below.

• Overall, can reach 15 feet high. But indoors, slow growth tempers that.

CARE NEEDS

• Place it away from direct sunlight. Or the leaves might turn yellow.
• Not fussy about soil. But add mulch to assist moisture when home heat is on.
• Water regularly. Yet don't let soil get soggy.

Parlor Palm

Robellini Palm Trees

Commonly referred to as the Robellini Palm. But Robellini Palm Trees are probably most well-known as Pygmy Date Palm. Scientific name is Phoenix roebelenii.

Named for Roebelin, a German orchid aficiando, who collected of this species of palm. A very popular type of indoor palm tree.

Also nice specimen for planting in Landscaping Around Taller Palms.

Waiting for You to Take It Home
Coming to You in a Nice Wooden Planter!

GROWTH

This type of indoor palm tree averages about 8 feet tall, maximum. The fiber-matted trunk gets wider towards its top.

Robellini palm trees form a nicely full rounded crown. Give it proper light, or it's fronds will thin out.

Sometimes for sale as a double-potted specimen. As to imitate its clustering growth for the wild form. It makes a gorgeous appearance for the home, planted this way!

FRONDS

Newly budding pinnate leaves appear grayish-green, turning a glowy dark green when mature. Thin leaflets about 10" long, spiny at lower ends. All along stem, averaging 4' long. 

FLOWERS & FRUIT

Inflorescences rise from protective spathes. Branches of tiny, very pale creamy yellow flowers. Fruits are small, oval & black.

CARE

It needs decent light, so get it by a western or southern window. Or minimally one with a large eastern view. Without good light, leaf production decreases. Even to the point of death!

Don't overfertilize soil. Remember that indoor growth is very slow. Robellini palm always grows slowly, even in the wild. Adjust feed accordingly. Watering should only just allow the soil to dry. That's the time to water again.

Areca Palm

Dypsis lutescens has a stylish look. Among the most beautiful Types of Indoor Palm Plants. AKA Butterfly Palm, Yellow Bamboo Palm & Golden Cane Palm.

Vintage Ad Invite to Come See (And Buy!) One of Their Areca Palm Trees

The Areca Palm gives instant tropical feel to any room! You'll have an impressive talking point with guests, when viewing this tall feature in your dining room corner. Or use it as a backdrop to furniture.

SIZING FOR THIS TYPE OF INDOOR PALM TREE

• It's a large one, so best in your oversized rooms. 

1. Possibly reaching heights up to 15 feet, fairly quickly. 

• Fronds can span about five+ feet. Dark green pinnate leaflets, have a silvery glow beneath.

ARECA PALM CARE

• It needs a bit more light. Ideal choice for airy, bright rooms. 

1. TIP: Situate it near a large westerly window, with sheer light filtering. 

• Not picky about soil. Needs consistent water & a good-draining pot.
• Precaution: Susceptible to spider mite infestations. Particularly when humidity decreases.

Lady Palm

Also been called Bamboo Palm (as have many more!!). Rhapis excelsa is compact, with multiple slender trunk stems.

Its reputation for indoor success makes them perfect for beginners! Great low-maintenance palm that's a survivor!

You'll love adding their exotic charm to any interior.

This Lady Sits Behind a Scree
At the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens in Savannah, GA

SIZING

• Slow-growing, eventually reaches to about 10 feet high. Yet watch its growth, for adequately sized container.
• Large, glossy green palmate leaves, along an 18" stem.

CARE

• Soil needs remind me of Goldilocks & the 3 Bears!

1. Not too acidic. Not too alkalotic. But in the middle: just right!!

• They thrive relatively easily without full light. 
• Avoid drying out, with occasional watering.

More Types of Indoor Palm Trees...
Suitable for Lower Lighting

The Chamaedorea genus has around 100 palm species.

All with pinnate fronds. Native to Mexico & Central America. Growing in mountainous rain forests. Therefore many normally don't require full sun. In fact don't want it!

We'll show you species most suited as potted types of indoor palm trees.

Chamaedorea cataractarum

This Cataract Palm is a water lover. For in its natural state you'd find it along rivers & streams. Also called: Cat Palm (for short!) & Cascade Palm.

See How This Small Cat Palm Could Fit Well Into a Nice Container!

SIZING

As in the above pic, the trunk tends to grow below the soil, or just above. But it's there!

• Full height can get to six feet. At a medium pace.
• Delicate, fern-like dark green leaves. Four feet length with 1' long leaflets.

PROBLEMS?

• Mainly needing consistent water & humidity.
• Plus a tendency for mite attack.  

Chamaedorea erumpens

Called the Bamboo Palm, because its multiple trunks seem like a miniature grove of bamboo stalks. Now reclassified as a variable of C. seifrizii, Reviewed Below.

• A clustering palm, thin stems daintily rise up from the soil. Imitating a small potted jungle!
• Fronds grow towards the top, adding to that mini-jungly look. Some leaflets are thin, some wider.

MANAGE TO IMITATE ITS NATIVE RAINFOREST

• Don't let it dry out! 
• When soil moisture feels barely there, fully water it again. 
• Ensure container has a drainage opening. Be sure it drains, roots shouldn't sit in sogginess. Then empty the water saucer below the pot. 

Chamaedorea microspadix

The Hardy Bamboo Palm is well named!

Because it's a nice small sized palm. And cold-hardy palm, so you give it some outdoor time. The ideal Chamaedorea type of indoor palm tree, for its native scrubby foothills environment.

Going to Pot! At Palmengarten in Frankfurt, Germany.

A most ideal type of indoor palm tree to go with!

• Gets up to 12 feet tall as an outdoor palm tree. But as an indoor palm tree, probably less. Maybe to eight feet at a medium growth rate.
• Not fussy for potting soil & doesn't need lots of water. Just regular, without totally drying out.
• Fronds are dark green, with silvery glow underneath. Leaflets feel silky smooth.

Chamaedorea seifrizii

Another referred to as: Bamboo Palm (that's confusing, yes!), but also Reed Palm. Named for botanist William Seifriz, who discovered possibilities for a specimen palm.

• It's a clumper with thin trunks. Not even 1-inch thick! Grows fairly quickly.

NOT REALLY BAMBOO-LIKE!

• Stem is greenish, with variable tones. Rings are muted.
• Clustering with dense fronds throughout, from bottom to top. Pruning Out Palm Stems carefully can beautify it.
• Frond leaflets are variably sized, and have named varieties.

Delightful Indoor Specimen

MORE REED PALM DETAILS

• What's nice are aromatic greenish-yellow flowers. 

1. On short, upright inflorescences, easily seen.

• Average watering demands, not extraordinary.
• One drawback is the inclination to get mites or pink blight!

Chamaedorea radicalis

As an outdoor palm tree, Cover Palm is the most cold-tolerant of the genus. As a solitary, best use is groupings.

Native to oak forests of NE Mexican mountains. Several forms available.

Even Tolerating Growing in an Outdoor Planter in Coastal Norway.

APPEARANCE

• Some Cover Palms have a single trunk. Most are trunkless, with frond stems emerging right out of the ground! For a unique appearance.
• Leaf crown is thinner than other Chamaedorea, about 6 fronds.

1. Can be variable, according to the form you find.

• Gets about 5 feet tall. Slowly moderate pace.

FOR INDOORS

• Does well as a type of indoor palm tree.
  
• Average water needs, just don't let it completely dry out.
• Not easy to find though, but is available.

Chamaedorea metallica

No, not related to the American heavy metal band!☺️ Which was newly formed in 1981.

In fact, C.metallica was accepted by the Royal Botanic Gardens as of 1966, and scientifically named earlier.

Also called Fishtail Palm, Metallic Palm & Miniature Fishtail Palm. With much popularity among collectors, now rare in endemic south Mexican rainforests. Also encroachment from coffee farms, timber & rock quarry corporations, eliminating its environment.

It is a beauty!

Metallic Palm Admired in Caracas, Venezuela!

A LOOKER!

• Solitary trunk gets about four feet tall. Dark green with rings.
• Fronds grow at an uplifted angle. Crowns form a nice full oval shape.

1. Per its name, dark bluish-green coloring has a metallic glow.

CARE FOR IT

• Be sure it's adequately watered, drains well & avoids dry soil.
• All around, easy to care for.