Bring the Tropics Home With These 3 Palms

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.