13 Indoor Palm Trees to Turn Your Home Into a Tropical Paradise

Kentia Palm (Howea forsteriana)

Native to the South Pacific, this houseplant will give you that big, classic palm tree look. While it is a slow grower, you should still plant it in a large pot—over the years, it can reach more than 12 feet indoors.

Houseplant lovers favor the Kentia palm because it can tolerate low light and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. You can move it outdoors in the summer, but make sure to avoid direct sunlight. A nice shaded patio or balcony would be perfect.

Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta)

Although the common name is "palm," this tree is actually in the cycads family, which makes it a conifer. Sago palms are very slow growers; don’t worry if your tree doesn’t seem any bigger from one year to the next. If you have them long enough, they will bloom. However, this can take 10 years or more, so put it in a large pot and keep it going for the long haul.

Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis)

Also known as fountain palm, this plant is native to Taiwan, Southern Japan, and China. The large fans on the plant (called fronds) can reach 2-3 feet wide growing indoors, so it can take a lot of space once it matures. For best results, let this palm dry out between waterings. Once you get it going, it can easily live for more than 30 years.

Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

This is a popular office plant because it can thrive without a lot of extra care or attention. It’s very similar to the parlor palm, though the botanical name is slightly different. You want to under-water rather than overwater this palm. Also make sure to keep it away from drafts or quick temperature changes. Other than that, it can make a great houseplant for years.

Majestic Palm (Ravenea rivularis)

The majestic palm tree likes moisture and humidity, so a kitchen or a bathroom might be perfect for it. Don’t overwater this tree—once or twice a week should be enough. It’s another slow grower that can give life to an indoor space for years.

Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

The parlor palm has beautiful, deep green foliage that can reach a few feet high while growing indoors. Many gardeners think of it as a tabletop palm, making it popular for even small spaces. It’s native to the rainforests of Guatemala and Southern Mexico. Keep the soil slightly dry, and definitely don’t expose it to cold or drafty conditions.

Yucca Palm (Yucca elephantipes)

Yucca palms are native to arid areas, so they can tolerate dry conditions as well as owners who may forget to water from time to time. In fact, they really don’t do well with waterlogged soil, so water deeply but infrequently for best results.

Ruffled Fan Palm (Licuala grandis)

Native to islands off the coast of Australia, this one is a real show stopper. It has a single, slender trunk, which then gives way to its many giant, fan-like fronds. In its native environment, it reaches 8 feet or more, but indoors, it will grow to be a bit shorter, just a few feet tall.

Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

Native to eastern Mexico, the ponytail palm naturally goes several months without water, so keep this in mind when establishing a houseplant watering routine in your house. Too much can definitely impact your success with this one—less is more will go a long way.

With its bold trunk and fun, slightly wild ponytail top, the ponytail palm quickly becoming one of the most popular houseplants in the country. It makes a great housewarming gift, too.

Pygmy Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii)

Most date palms can reach massive heights in the wild—we're talking more than 75 feet. This dwarf variety native to China, on the other hand, will grow to about 4-6 feet total in a container. In the right conditions, this plant will flower and fruit, producing small dates. It will benefit from a palm-specific fertilizer about twice a year.

Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)

Native to Madagascar, the Arera palm loves bright lights and will benefit from some outdoors time during the warm months. Like other palms, they can be sensitive to overwatering, so practice the system of deeply but infrequently. This palm thrives in a smaller pot and will benefit from being repotted every couple of years.

Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)

Native to southeastern Asian, the lady palm has dark green fronds all over the plant that look like fans or hands. (Some even call it by the nickname of finger palm.) This palm is unique because it can have both green and variegated leaves. It can tolerate less light overall, so no worries if you don’t have a bright area.

Christmas Palm (Adonidia merrillii)

Native to the Philippines, the Christmas palm can reach more than 25 feet high when growing outside. Inside as a houseplant, it might reach heights of 4-6 feet. It’s actually a popular plant to grow outdoors in warm climates, and then it will be moved indoors in colder months. Be sure to pick a large pot for this one to give it plenty of room to grow.