Bring the Tropics Home With These 3 Palms

by Ann Hayward 01/15/2024

Palm trees can be found on almost every continent in the world. While some hardier versions can survive colder weather, most thrive in tropical or subtropical climates. If you want to grow palm trees indoors as houseplants, you'll need to replicate a tropical environment as much as possible for them to thrive. While it might seem intimidating, there are plenty of palms you can grow as houseplants. Here are some of the top suggestions:

Areca Palm

Areca palms are also called bamboo palms because they grow in tight clumps of slender stems. Areca palms are extremely popular as houseplants because they are tolerant of lower light indoor environments. To keep an areca palm happy and healthy, keep the soil moist but not soggy. While these palms can grow up to 8 feet tall, they are slow growers and are often widely available as small, tabletop trees.

Parlor Palm

Parlor palms will flourish in average indoor light. They are even forgiving of different humidity levels, but prefer evenly-moist soil and consistent temperatures. When grown as a houseplant, parlor palms can reach heights of up to 6 feet with a 2-3 foot spread. Though slow growers, parlor palms can live for decades with the right care, making them an excellent addition to your indoor landscape.

Yucca Palm

The spineless yucca palm is a popular indoor plant with long leaves clustered at the top of the stick-like trunk. It's common to find them labeled as "stick yucca" due to their appearance as young trees: often a single mostly bare trunk with a few leaves on top. These palms make beautiful houseplants and are much more drought tolerant than some of the other options. Yuccas want to dry out completely between waterings but will grow in a variety of lighting environments from full sun to partial shade.

These are only a few types of palms you can grow as houseplants. Think carefully about where to place your palm at home so it can live in the best possible indoor environment.

About the Author

Ann Hayward

Born in Philadelphia and raised in the suburbs, Ann Hayward got her Pennsylvania real estate license at age 18 even before going to college. This second-generation real estate professional followed in the footsteps of her father and two uncles, inheriting their passion for the business. Licensed in DC, Maryland and Virginia, Ann is accomplished in her career, with numerous designations including SFR, SRES, PSA, WHC, and multiunit Housing Development Finance Professional (HDFP) from the National Development Council. She specializes in Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties, Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, all jurisdictions where Ann has lived and knows very well. In addition to her professional expertise, she owns and manages personal investment property, understands and has been involved in the renovation/remodeling process, and has great resources which she shares with clients. When you hire Ann to represent you, she will make your buying or selling experience an enjoyable, rewarding one. Her compassion, sensitivity to her clients’ needs, eye for detail, and ability to see the big picture when guiding you through a purchase or sale are unique assets that will ensure your success. A diverse and relevant background also gives Ann a distinct edge. For 30 years, she worked in fast-paced, high-pressure television and theatrical production, attaining the highest achievement – DGA membership as a Director, and as an award-winning staff and freelance writer. Her keen audio visual skills and design sense benefit sellers in marketing their properties, and are invaluable in helping buyers see the potential of space. A true renaissance woman, Ann was also an income tax professional and office manager for H&R Block, so she thoroughly understands the tax and financial implications of acquiring and selling real estate. Her superior organizational skills are further evidenced as owner of a downsizing/professional organizing business, Managed For You, which allows her to connect with everyone from millennials to boomers and seniors, whether for small space planning or assisting with major decluttering and transitioning. Ann holds an AB in American History from Simmons College, Boston, plus attended Robert Wagner Graduate School of Public Administration where she was a candidate for Doctorate. She additionally studied Film Direction at the American Film Institute in LA, and was a Stanford University post-graduate Professional Journalism Fellow. Personally, Ann is an avid if not very good golfer, and the co-founder of a nonprofit 501c3 organization offering educational guidance, tutoring and counseling for youngsters from elementary school through college admission. She sits on the board of trustees of a nonprofit educational film production corporation as well. (202) 494-6252 [email protected]