If you love to add a tropical view to your living space with houseplants that look like a palm tree, here you can find a comprehensive list of them from small to large, with all the things you should know. keep reading
I my previous article, I discussed How To Care For a Palm Houseplant. Now, I will introduce you to 7 plants that look like palm trees. You can easily match them with your indoor decor based on their size. Most of them are low-maintenance indoor plants, and some of them can thrive outdoors too. And along with these introductions, we will tell you some magical tips that you will not find anywhere else.
Let’s start our green trip together by introducing 7 houseplants that look like a palm tree.
➡ You can hear the audio version of this article.
List of Houseplants That Look Like a Palm Tree
1. Cycad
Another common name: Cardboard palm
Scientific name: Zamia furfuracea
If you live in an environment that is not hot and the air in your environment is moderate and cold, know that you cannot protect the tropical palm plant well! So, try the cardboard palm tree. It is very similar to tropical palms, but as you can see from the shape, it is a kind of fern and belongs to the fern family. I put it at the top of the list of houseplants that look like palm trees.
Scientific name: Livistona chinensis
Indeed, tropical plants are very beautiful, but what should a person who does not live in hot environments and loves such plants do? The Chinese fan palms are another beautiful houseplants that look like a palm tree. And it can grow up to 15 feet and make the environment of your home green and beautiful. And it reaches its peak of beauty and greatness every year in the spring season.
3. Madagascar Palm
Scientific name: Pachypodium lamerei
The name of this tree indicates its place of residence! It originates from the island of Madagascar. You don’t need to be a professional gardener to protect it. You can take care of it very easily. This plant can grow to a height of 20 feet. The reason for its popularity is that it has fragrant white flowers that gradually darken and fall off the tree as they dry.
This plant produces fragrant white flowers during spring and early summer.
4. Cat palm
Other common names: Cascade palm or Cataract palm
Scientific name: Chamaedorea cataractarum
This tree is very similar to a date tree! But it has more stems than a date tree. Thin and numerous stems! Another difference is its elongated leaves. Also, the leaves are darker compared to the date palm tree and due to the large number of leaves of this tree, your hoti house will be humid and tropical.
These houseplants that look like palm trees are safe for babies and pets, but it is recommended to avoid eating them.
5. Areca Palm
Other common names: Golden cane palm, Yellow palm, Butterfly palm, or Bamboo palm
Scientific name: Dypsis lutescens
Unlike the palm tree, it adapts to the cold environment and also needs very little light. This plant is safe for cats, too. What could be better than this?
The only thing you should do is to fertilise it monthly. It is interesting to know that the leaves of this tree have many different colours and you will see yellow, green and black tones in its leaves, which makes your home environment very attractive and warm.
6. Ponytail Palm
Scientific name: Beaucarnea recurvata
The most important positive point for this apartment plant is that it does not need daily watering and is resistant to drought. So it is one of the easy indoor plants that can clean the air, too. Its leaves have an interesting shape. They deny that they are curled, and it grows so big that it is the size of a truck. Also, whatever I say, I say little! Because they are beautiful, colourful and fragrant, they grow in clusters and make your home very fragrant.
7. Sago Palm
Other common names: King sago, Sago cycad, Japanese Sago palm, or Sotetsu [Japanese ソテツ]
Scientific name: Cycas revoluta
Don’t get me wrong! The only similarity of a palm tree is to a palm tree! But it is not part of this family! It belongs to the group of cycad trees. The leaves are not long, and they are beautiful leaves. You can act with planning because the fog may grow so much that it cannot be kept at home! Poke holes in the soil of the pot with a wooden skewer to allow drainage and water to reach the roots. This type of stem does not become too woody, and the plant grows less and climbs up from the ceiling!
💡 Below you can watch a video about palm plants indoor care
Outdoor Houseplants That Look Like a Palm Tree
Some of the plants in the above list can grow outdoors too. Please note that factors like climate, local conditions, and care provided have a critical impact on growing the following trees in outdoor environments. So, I strongly recommend you always consider the specific requirements of each plant and your local climate when deciding where to place them. In the following, you can find a list of them:
- Cycad (Zamia furfuracea)
- Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis)
- Madagascar Palm (Pachypodium lamerei)
- Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta)
It’s important to note that while these plants are commonly grown as indoor or outdoor plants based on their preferred conditions, the suitability of a plant for a specific environment may also depend on factors like climate, local conditions, and care provided. Some of these plants can be grown both indoors and outdoors in suitable conditions. Always consider the specific requirements of each plant and your local climate when deciding where to place them.
In the following, I want to list the above palms based on their size. The size of plants is a critical factor for accumulating them in various spaces. Please note that heights are approximate, and a lot of factors, including environmental conditions and care practices, have an impact on them. However, you can control the size of these palms by pruning them or growing them in containers.
Small Houseplants That Look Like a Palm Tree
- Cat Palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum):
Cat Palms typically remain relatively compact, making them suitable for indoor settings. They generally reach a height of about 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) when grown indoors. In their natural habitat or ideal outdoor conditions, they may grow slightly taller.
- Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata):
Ponytail Palms are known for their distinctive, swollen base and long, arching leaves. When grown indoors as a potted plant, they usually reach a height of 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 meters). In their native habitat and when planted outdoors, they can grow taller, sometimes reaching heights of up to 20 feet (6 meters) over many years.
- Madagascar Palm (Pachypodium lamerei):
Pachypodium lamerei can vary in size, but it’s typically considered a smaller palm-like succulent. It doesn’t reach the large sizes of some outdoor palm species and is often categorised as a smaller palm.
Large Houseplants That Look Like a Palm Tree
In this part, I will list the Large houseplants that look like palm trees. You can use them as landscape plants or as focal points in larger indoor spaces.
- Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis):
Chinese Fan Palms can typically grow to a height of 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters) when planted outdoors in ideal conditions. In indoor settings or containers, they generally remain smaller, around 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters).
- Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta):
Sago Palms are slow-growing and can reach a height of 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters) when grown outdoors. In indoor pots or containers, they usually stay smaller, around 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1.2 meters).
- Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens):
Areca Palms can grow to be relatively tall when planted outdoors in tropical climates, reaching heights of 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters). However, when grown as indoor houseplants, they are typically much smaller, often reaching heights of 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 meters) at most.
- Cycad (Zamia furfuracea):
Zamia furfuracea is a medium-sized palm-like plant. It can grow to be relatively large for an indoor plant, but is still smaller in comparison to some of the larger outdoor palms. It’s often considered a medium-sized palm or cycad.
Conclusion:
This article is for you, I hope it was useful. Were you able to choose one of these 7 houseplants that look like palm trees for your home? It is hard to choose because they are all beautiful and make your home environment happy and refreshing. The choice of each one can be the best of all! Be quick, because your house needs this plant to complete.
Elahe Rabiei
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.