17 Types of Indoor Palm Plants: Most Popular Varieties

Types of indoor palm plants are ones that have been all the rage. Why not add a palm tree of the Arecaceae family if you want to spruce up your indoor living space?

There are numerous options to choose from when bringing a tropical feel indoors. This article will highlight some of our favorite types of palm plants that do well in an indoor environment.

List of Different Indoor Palm Plants

1. Areca Palm

The Areca Palm, which is also known as the Golden Cane Palm, is perfect for those looking trees that would add a touch of greenery and beauty to their home. Its unique stem pattern and tropical foliage make it an eye-catching addition to any room.

– Characteristics

On top of its distinctive appearance, Areca Palms can help purify air quality in your home, giving you a fresher and healthier living environment. All these benefits make this type of Palm one of the best plants for indoors. It has beautiful glossy leaves that would stand strong on their single stem. 

– Care Requirements

All indoor palm plants require special care regarding location, water and sunshine, and soil needs. However, this indoor palm tree is a low-maintenance plant that require little attention beyond regular misting or occasional pruning. They are also highly resilient, withstand minor neglect and adjust to different temperatures.

These indoor palm trees are ideal for beginners because of their easy-to-care-for abilities. Bright indirect light is ideal for these palms, which means that if they are behind a translucent curtain, they would thrive. 

The key to growing these amazing palms successfully is to water it correctly; the soil must be moist but not waterlogged. In addition, these palms are ones that would enjoy dampness as well, so water the leaves occasionally or place them on a tray of wet pebbles. 

2. Chinese Fan Palm

If you’re a budding gardener looking for the perfect plant to add some green to your home, Chinese Fan Palm is the way to go! 

– Characteristics

Showcasing lush and exotic foliage which adds instant glamour to any space, this beloved indoor palm tree is easy to care for and will surely make an impressive statement in your home.

Its elegant fronds can reach up to six feet in length; they have long petioles, which enhance the graceful look of this species’ habit. It’s ideal for houseplants; use in atriums or anywhere that needs some greenery—making it one of the best palms for indoor cultivation.

– Care Requirements

When it comes to their regular care, remember that they are the kind that will thrive when the sunlight isn’t directly on them, on the other hand, also ensure that you would leave their soil moist, but not soggy. If you overwater them they would be prone to foresee different diseases. 

Indoor Chinese fan palm plants are fantastic because they don’t need as much to be given tender loving care as other houseplants during the winter, which means that if you let them grow to their own stability, that is how they would thrive. These magnificent plants can stick around for up to 40 years with proper care! 

3. Cascade Palm

The Cascade palm brings a piece of the Central American jungle to your home! Its large, dark green leaves and glossy surfaces give any room a refreshing look. These types of indoor palm trees are also known as cat palm and can be grown indoors or outdoors for an eye-catching addition to any living space.

– Characteristic

This exotic plant is an easy-care houseplant that will fill your home with the beauty of the forest and bring a sense of nature inside. With its large leaves, this palm tree can be an attractive addition to any room. Bring nature indoors with this palm and enjoy its beauty in any setting.

– Benefits

In addition to being beautiful, this type of tree is incredibly beneficial for the environment and air quality, and it would be beneficial if you decide to invest in them. They can filter out pollutants and allergens in the air, making your home a healthier place to live and breathe, and this would be good knowing that the environment can be a polluting one, but your indoors won’t be. This makes them an excellent choice for any home or office space.

4. Banana Palm

Are you in a cooler climate and want to add a lush tropical ambiance to your space? Why not try the Banana plant? This plant is beautiful and requires minimal care—perfect for even the most novice of green thumbs. Give your room a touch of exotic with this unique indoor Palm.

– Characteristics 

These plants are also easy to care for; regular watering and occasional fertilizing are all needed to foster healthy growth. As an added benefit, these fast growers can reach heights up to 10 feet tall. By planting a banana palm tree in your abode, you will create a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere that will last for years.

– Growth Requirements

This happy-go-lucky plant needs at least 12 hours of sunshine to reach its full potential. Give it some love and nourishment with a healthy dose of compost, nutrient-rich soil, and regular watering, which would be just enough to keep the soil moist without making it soggy.

5. Sago Palm

These stunning subtropical plants hailing from Japan and southern China may not be genuine palm trees, but they sure look like them! Most of the time, they are used indoors. 

– Characteristics

They love humidity, so make sure to give them a regular misting and ensure their soil is well-drained—too much moisture can easily lead to root rot. Which means that when you ensure the proper conditions, you will see this plant grow one to two inches every year. Although it is not much of a growth that will be obvious, but this is also another characteristics, that these plants would grow slowly and in a short structure.

– Care 

With slow growth and a preference for bright sunshine but no direct rays, Sago palms will stay active from spring to fall and can produce one green frond yearly. 

It won’t take up too much space either, with its upright habit helping to brighten up any corner in any room. Plus, you won’t need to spend all day watering; the Sago palm trees naturally store water in their stems, so it only needs occasional attention, and it will be just fine.

6. Yucca Palm

The Yucca Palms are next on the list. This palm is an attractive, low-maintenance tree suitable for indoor growing conditions. Its unique shape and stature add a distinct style to any living space.

– Characteristics

Plant care includes easy steps, and it would be thriving with the most minimal care, as you would be adding these palm trees to your residence can transform any area into an instant oasis. Gorgeous and resilient, these beauties are good for any indoor space.

– Growth Requirements

These palm trees are sun-loving plants that thrive near a sunny window, even in artificial light. While it will universally adapt to any soil, it prefers slightly sandy and well-draining ones while still requiring ample amounts of water—without over-watering—to keep its iconic pointed leaves healthy and vibrant.

7. Parlor Palm

The Parlor Palm is ideal for those seeking a strong and attractive indoor plant. Not only does this palm tree come in sizes that will fit any space, but it is also known to be remarkably hardy. 

– Characteristics

The Parlor Palm has a clumping habit, forming multiple stems from the base. This makes it easy to divide and propagate and prune for shape, on the other hand, also remember that it is also relatively disease resistant and generally requires minimal maintenance.

Even beginners with no green thumb can care for this type of Palm easily. With its graceful fronds, the Parlor palm trees add a natural and welcoming touch of greenery to their homes.

– Growth Requirements

When you have placed this tree indoors, make sure that it is not near a window that would show direct light, because then it will be prone to sunburns. On the contrary, it should be placed in a location where the sun will be indirect and bright, at the same time. 

Moreover, the soil should be one that would not hold water deeply because the water should drain out, as the roots will like moisture, but not the excessive kind. Which means that it is ideal for the pot to have drainage holes at the bottom of it. 

8. Majesty Palm

No houseplant is more majestic and beautiful than the Majesty Palm. This great houseplant adorns many homes due to its attractive feather-like foliage, ease of maintenance, and filtration of toxins. 

– Characteristics

It can easily become your next indoor palm plant. Native to the country of Madagascar, and so, the majestic palm is one that can be grown successfully in pots or containers indoors with minimal effort. 

Although these indoor palms can reach up to 10 feet in height in their native habitat, they can easily prune back if growing too tall or extensive for your home’s interior space. However, they do add a touch of beauty and wildness to your house, through their green leaves. 

– Growth Requirements 

As long as you keep it watered regularly and provide the right amount of sunlight, preferably indirect, you will surely enjoy your beautiful palm for years to come! It really is one of the easiest indoor palms to look after. Moreover, the soil that it would need should be one that is not clay type, or else when you irrigate it, water would be stuck down at the roots. 

9. Ponytail Palm

Another essential palm that you can happily keep would be the ponytail palm. It is a unique and eye-catching houseplant and one of the most highly recommended palms to keep as indoor plants. 

– Characteristics

It grows well in light shade but can tolerate full sun if you are careful about watering, so it does not dry out. Not only that, but it’s perfect for people looking for an interesting statement piece that requires little maintenance or frequent watering.

– Growth Requirements 

The Ponytail Palm is considered low maintenance because it only needs to be watered once to twice a week, depending on the season. This makes it an ideal choice for beginner gardeners or those who have busy lives and need something relatively easy to manage. 

This beautiful palm would also benefit from occasional feeding with a standard liquid water-soluble fertilizer applied during the spring and summer. Which means that when you give it the right fertilizing needs, it will start showing you better growing rate.

10. Pygmy Date Palm 

Date palm usually grows as high as 75 ft, but a specific type of date palm ideal for indoors is called the Pygmy Date Palm. It’s also called Pheonix Palm and Miniature Date. This plant is easy to maintain and grow and can be grown in pots.

– Characteristic

It remains small and has narrow feathery leaves that grow approximately three to five feet in length. It gives a silvery, darker, or even a darker shade of green and has a lush crown with a thin trunk. 

The distinctive feature of this plant is given by its crown base, which shows numerous retained leaf bases. Another great thing about this plant is that it is non-toxic to dogs and cats, so your pets are safe.

– Growth Requirements

When it comes to seeing this plant thrive, remember that it requires full sun but can also be under filtered light or partial shade. Ideally, give this place a spot with bright natural light all day.

When the weather is warmer, that is when you should increase the irrigation level of this plant, because the plant will become thirsty, and require more. Which means that the soil should have a good retention property, and proper drainage too. 

11. Kentia Palm 

If you’re into plants and know the different types and families of plants, you might find Kentia and Sentry Palm very similar, but they are not. S. Palm’s leaves droop much compared to Kentia Palms’, so this is one way to differentiate.

– Characteristics

Kentia Palm is a low-maintenance plant known for tolerating numerous conditions difficult for other indoor plants to adapt to. It is a native plant of Australia and grows dark green arching fronds and slender trunk, increasing its beauty.

– Growth Requirements 

It does not require a lot of sunlight and can easily be placed in shady areas, as a result of the latter, you might want to avoid burning its leaves from direct sunlight. Moreover, remember that they grow slowly and can reach up to 10 feet in height. 

One thing to remember is that Kentia plants can adapt to numerous soil types but will reject over-watering and dryness. Growing season starts in early spring, which means that this is the best time if you wish to add some fertilizers to qualify the growth of the plant. 

12. Fishtail Palm

If you want to give your indoor to look and have a fresh touch, this fishtail palm with its chopped leaves resembling the tale of a fish which would be ideal.

This plant has long stalks with branching leaves at alternative ends. They require a lot of sunlight and a steady water supply.

– Characteristic

These palms would be easier for repotting when young; they have slow growth, so it’s even more accessible. But, once they mature, their height, which is up to 20 feet, and their weight can make it impossible to report. So if you decide to shift from indoors to the garden or any other place, do it early on.

– Growth Requirements

When you are growing this plant, what you should know is that in hot weathers it will be more of a challenge to maintain their health, and the reason is that they will be asking for more water, and still not having it sufficiently. Moreover, you should keep them in six to eight hours of sun, so that they would grow to their utmost potential, and the soil that they would require should be one that is well draining.

13. Bamboo Palm

Bamboo Palm is your go-to plant if you’re living in a moist and humid climate where it rains frequently or there is just humidity and moisture. They are beautiful interior decorations that can even serve as space dividers.

– Characteristics

But remember, they are alive and require water often, so don’t forget to add water bamboo plant to your daily to-do list, because this is how they would properly establish themselves. However, what you should know is that this palm tree is not a Bamboo plant, it’s from the palm family, but it grows in conditions similar to Bamboo plants.

– Growth Requirements 

Bamboo Palm requires moist soil and low lightning; remember to check the soil, as it needs to be well-draining to avoid root infections and water clogging, if it gets clogged for some time, the medium would be an easy one where it would develop fungi. It is a subtropical palm growing up to 20 feet and has yellow flowers on a pinnacle with unique green leaves that are pinnately divided.

14. Lipstick Palm

Lipstick Palm has a beautiful bright red stalk with sleek, long green leaves that add charm to its beauty. Healthy palm produces white flowers and, later on, black fruit.

– Characteristics

This is the type of plant that would add a signature look to your indoor setting, with its beautiful long and red stems, that shoot astonishing green leaves. On the other hand, the reason why it is also loved by plant keepers is the fact that it is a safe plant to have and keep around your pets. In case your pets bite into the leaves, none of them will be harmed. 

– Growth Requirements 

They can strive in full sun as well as indirect light. You would need to water them before the potting soil dries. These palms may become root bound, so you need to replant them into larger pots, so their roots have space to grow further. 

In an ideal environment, this plant can grow up to 35 feet near ponds or rivers, as it loves humidity and moisture. Remember to keep the soil moist and not clog for their healthy growth.

15. Ivory Crownshaft Palm

Ivory Crownshaft Palm, yet another beautiful indoor palm door, is similar to the ivory cane palm. The difference is that the ivory cane palm has a cluster of stems, whereas the ivory crownshaft palm has a single long trunk.

– Characteristic 

This plant grows up to 20 feet tall and has a crown with green palm leaves. Ivory Crownshaft Palm likes intense indirect sunlight. The soil mix needs to be wet, and you can also use the mist to increase humidity. 

This plant in a container will be shorter in the first few years; for ideal growth, it requires a transplant outside. You can water the plant when the half-inch to one-inch soil is dry from the top. 

– Growth Requirements

This is the type of plant that will grow well when the environment is humid, and this means that to increase the humidity, you may mist around it once a while, or place a pebble tray around it. In addition, remember that you must provide it indirect or morning sun, when the light isn’t harsh enough to burn the tips of the leaves.

16. Diamond Palm

Diamond Palm is all about fans. They have big widespread fans, not much of any visual stem, and are ideal for big hallways rather than bedrooms.

The undivided leaves can reach a spectacular height of 20 feet and 15 feet wide. Moreover, sometime you may also see this plant called as “The Joey.”

– Characteristics

The large diamond-shaped leaves are pleated, which adds to their beauty. It thrives in the summer and has to be brought inside during winter, you can also keep it indoors at all times if you wish to, and if you are located in a place where the climate isn’t always warm.

On another note, remember that It doesn’t have a trunk, and the leaves come directly from the underground rootstock. How cool is that! These palms grow super healthy with the correct conditions. 

– Growth Requirements

Diamond Palm tree care is easy because it is a tough plant that likes subtropical and tropical climates, but it needs to be in a warmer weather, which is why indoors is a great idea. Furthermore, they require full sun to partial shade sunlight and can be watered moderately.

17. Rhapis Palm

The Rhapis Palm, also known as the broadleaf lady palm, is yet another beautiful fan-style palm plant that can grow indoors. It can thrive up to 15 feet in height and requires water when the top half of the soil is dry.

You can manage the size by pruning regularly, and it will be just fine to grow inside your house.

– Characteristics

They are also known to be the perfect houseplants by Chinese cultivators as they remove harmful chemical gasses from the air, such as carbon dioxide, xylene, ammonia, and even formaldehyde. They grow wonderfully in partial or complete shade and can be put in indirect sunlight.

– Care 

Lady Palm only requires a little elaborate tree care or trimming. It grows as a clump of compact stalks. If the tips have become black, you may have gone far with fertilizer or water; just cut off the tips and care for the right amount of water and fertilizer.

Conclusion

By exploring some of the most popular indoor palm plants, you can now decide which type would be best suited for your space. With care and nurturing, you can enjoy a beautiful and thriving indoor palm for years. Keep in mind: 

• Majestic palms are some of the easiest varieties to grow that need little upkeep. If you’re a beginner go for this.
• Fishtail palms get big quite fast, so repotting should be done on young.
• Ponytail palms are okay with shade and full light, so if you can access only one, choose this plant.

Remember that you should give them the right needs so that they would thrive in their ideal rate. Now, which of the palm trees from above will you grow? 

https://www.ourhouseplants.com/plants/lady-palm-rhapis-excelsa

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/lipstick-palm/lipstick-palm-growing.htm

https://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/tree/fishtail-palm/

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/cascade-palm.php

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/cascade-palm.php

https://www.allaboutpalmtrees.com/banana-palm-tree

https://www.thesill.com/blog/how-to-care-for-bamboo-palm-chamaedorea-seifrizii