Lady palm
Rhapis excelsa · Family Arecaceae
Also known as: rhapis, broadleaf lady palm, bamboo palm
- Light
- Partial shade to bright indirect
- Watering
- Every 6 days
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Pet-safe
- Yes
Care
Where to put it
A living room or office with filtered daylight.
Light
Partial shade to bright indirect light. Direct sun yellows the fronds.
Watering
Water when the top of the compost is dry; less often in winter.
About the plant
The lady palm forms clumps of slender stems with fan-shaped leaves. It has been grown as an ornamental for centuries in China and Japan. In a pot it reaches 1.5 or 2 metres and copes well with partial shade.
Origin
Native to southern China and Taiwan, where it grows in forest understoreys.
What it likes
- Indirect light or partial shade
- Regular watering without soaking
- Mild temperatures
What it dislikes
- Strong afternoon sun
- Soggy compost
- Tips trimmed needlessly
Did you know?
In Japan, variegated varieties have been collected for centuries and can be worth a lot of money.
