Join this article to learn about palm houseplant identification in three ways. I will provide you with images and names of 13 indoor palm trees belonging to the family Arecaceae. This botanical family is commonly known as the palm family. You also will find the common and scientific names of these palm houseplants with a brief overview of their appearance.
Before told you about the best houseplant identification methods, here I will use some of them to identify indoor plant trees. I will provide you with a key that can make palm houseplant identification easier for you. In addition, you will get familiar with a plant identifier tool that will let you identify your indoor palm tree quickly with high accuracy.
Please note that here, I only mention the real palm trees that belong to the family Arecaceae. However, there are palm-like houseplants such as Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) and Yucca (Yucca aloifolia) that don’t belong to this family. You can find them in my previous articles on this issue. Don’t waste the time, let’s get going.
Here, you can find the names and images of 13 indoor palm trees with a brief overview of their appearance. It will help you with palm houseplant identification. If you are interested in knowing about caring for palm houseplants, as I discussed in my previous post, you can read it.
Scientific name: Chamaedorea elegans
Other common names: Neanthe Bella Palm, Good Luck Palm
Appearance to palm houseplant identification:
Parlor Palms are common houseplants that consider small indoor palm trees with delicate, feather-like leaves. Typically grows to around 2-6 feet (0.6-1.8 meters). They have arching fronds that are typically dark green. They are often compact and are suitable for indoor spaces.
Scientific name: Livistona chinensis
Other common names: Fountain Palm, Chinese Fountain Palm
Appearance to palm houseplant identification:
Chinese Fan Palms have large, fan-shaped leaves with distinct segments. It can reach 25-50 feet (7.6-15 meters) when grown outdoors. Indoors, they are usually smaller They are typically bright green and can grow to be quite tall. They are often used as ornamental landscape plants.
Scientific name: Dypsis lutescens
Other common names: Butterfly Palm, Yellow Palm
Appearance to palm houseplant identification:
Areca Palms are known for their feathery, pinnate leaves that are narrow and arching. It can reach 6-10 feet (1.8-3 meters) indoors and taller when grown outdoors. They have a graceful appearance and can grow to a significant height. Their leaves are light to medium green.
Scientific name: Chamaedorea cataractarum
Other common names: Cascade Palm
Appearance to palm houseplant identification:
Cat Palms have feathery, pinnate leaves with multiple narrow leaflets. Typically grows to about 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 meters). They are often grown indoors and have an elegant, compact growth habit. Their leaves are typically dark green.
Scientific name: Beaucarnea recurvata
Other common names: Elephant’s Foot Tree
Appearance to palm houseplant identification:
Ponytail Palms are unique in appearance. They can grow up to 20 feet (6 meters) or more, but they are often kept smaller in indoor pots. They have a bulbous trunk at the base and long, slender, arching leaves that resemble a ponytail. The leaves are typically thin and may be somewhat curly.
Scientific name: Ravenea rivularis
Other common names: Majesty Palm
Appearance to palm houseplant identification:
Majestic Palms are tall and slender with feathery, pinnate leaves. It can reach heights of 10-15 feet (3-4.5 meters) or more. The leaves are typically glossy and dark green. They have a majestic, graceful appearance.
Scientific name: Chamaedorea seifrizii
Other common names: Reed Palm, Cluster Palm
Appearance to palm houseplant identification:
Bamboo Palms have feathery, pinnate leaves that are compact and dense. Usually grows to about 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 meters) indoors. They are often grown indoors and have a bamboo-like appearance. The leaves are typically light to medium green.
Scientific name: Howea forsteriana
Other common names: Sentry Palm, Thatch Palm
Appearance to palm houseplant identification:
Kentia Palms have feathery, pinnate leaves that are dark green and arch gracefully. Typically reaches heights of 6-12 feet (1.8-3.7 meters) indoors. They have a classic and elegant appearance and are often used as indoor decorative plants.
Scientific name: Rhapis excelsa
Other common names: Bamboo Palm, Broadleaf Lady Palm
Appearance to palm houseplant identification:
Lady Palms have multiple, slender stems and fan-shaped leaves with many segments. They grow to about 6-12 feet (1.8-3.7 meters) when planted in the ground. Indoors, it remains smaller. The leaves are typically dark green and add a touch of elegance to indoor spaces.
Scientific name: Caryota mitis
Other common names: Clustering Fishtail Palm
Appearance to palm houseplant identification:
Fishtail Palms have unique, bipinnate leaves with leaflets that resemble fishtails. It can reach heights of 8-10 feet (2.4-3 meters) or more. The leaves can be quite large, and the plant has an exotic appearance.
Scientific name: Howea belmoreana
Other common names: Curly Palm
Appearance to palm houseplant identification:
Sentry Palms have feathery, pinnate leaves that are compact and arch gracefully. They usually grow to about 6-10 feet (1.8-3 meters) indoors. They are smaller in size and are suitable for indoor cultivation.
Scientific name: Phoenix roebelenii
Other common names: Miniature Date Palm, Robellini Palm
Appearance to palm houseplant identification:
Pygmy Date Palms have feathery, pinnate leaves with slender leaflets. They Grow to around 6-10 feet (1.8-3 meters) when planted outdoors, but it is often smaller indoors. They are compact and have a dainty, elegant appearance.
Scientific name: Chamaerops humilis
Other common names: Mediterranean Fan Palm, Dwarf Fan Palm
Appearance to palm houseplant identification:
European Fan Palms have fan-shaped leaves with segments and are often seen in a bushy clumping form. They grow to around 6-10 feet (1.8-3 meters) or more when planted outdoors. They have a rugged and Mediterranean appearance.
Here, I provide you with a key that will help you to identify your palm tree with its leaf shape. Follow it.
Step 1- Leaf Shape:
Step 2- Pinnate Leaves:
Step 3- Palmate Leaves:
Step 4-Fan-Shaped Leaves:
Step 5- Intricate Palmate Leaves:
Step 6- Leaf Texture and Characteristics:
Among the various methods of plant identification, I think using tools is the easiest way to identify an indoor plant. In this part, I want to introduce one of the best free online tools for plant identification: the “House plant identifier”.
I recommend it due to the following:
You can search for its name on Google and then take an online photo of your palm houseplant (or upload its images from your gallery, and then click on the Start button. try this free online tool and enjoy it.
Now you have a comprehensive guideline for palm houseplant identification including a collection of names and images, a key, and a free online plant identification tool. Do you think which way is easier? Which way is more exact? Did you find the name of your indoor palm tree? What was its name? Please share your ideas and experiences with us below this page.
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.