The native homeland of the Kentia palm is Lord Howe Island, which was discovered in 1788 by Lt. Henry Lidgbird Ball. The island is located 480 miles northeast of Sydney, Australia. It is 11 km long and 2.8 km wide, with a boomerang-shaped form. Between 1830 and 1840, the first settlers established themselves on the island to provide services for American whaling ships. Initially supplying fresh water to passing vessels, the islanders’ population gradually increased over time.

The seeds of Howea forsteriana were first collected in 1870 by the Victorian-era botanist Baron Ferdinand von Müller, who mistakenly referred to this palm as Kentia. In 1877, Odoardo Beccari reclassified this palm as a species endemic to Lord Howe Island under the genus Howea.

For many years, the inhabitants of Lord Howe Island used only the leaves of this palm to thatch the roofs of their houses. During the 1880s, the decline of the whaling industry forced the islanders to seek an alternative source of income, leading to the collection and export of palm seeds. Seed harvesting was organized as a cooperative involving all island residents and became their primary livelihood. However, during World War I, global demand for seeds declined, resulting in reduced income. At the same time, rats that escaped from a ship stranded on the island’s beach consumed the seeds, causing further economic damage to the islanders.

In 1974, the construction of an airport enabled the first regular air services to the island. Following this development, the Kentia palm seed industry was revived. Export activities are regulated by the Lord Howe Island Board, consisting of three island residents and two national park officers. To strengthen the island’s economy, the board established seed production nurseries and, beginning in the 1980s, shifted from exporting seeds to exporting germinated seeds or seedlings.

Kentia palms require full sunlight to reach maturity for flowering and seed production. While plants grown in full sun may flower within 10 years, individuals growing beneath the canopy with limited light may take up to 40 years to flower. The flowering period occurs annually in November and December. Inflorescences emerge from the leaf bases, bearing creamy-brown male flowers and green female flowers. During the first year of flowering, pollination does not occur, and therefore no seed set is produced. In the second year, the female flowers are fertilized by male flowers that develop higher on the inflorescence. Seed maturation takes 3–4 years; consequently, Kentia palms often carry two or three crops at different stages of development simultaneously.

Of the two single-stemmed Howea species found on Lord Howe Island, Howea forsteriana occurs in low-lying, sandy forests. The other species, Howea belmoreana, is less common in these areas and is generally found in higher forests up to elevations of 450 meters. This species has a cylindrical trunk that can reach up to 15 meters in height. The dark green leaves arch downward with age. As in Howea forsteriana, a brown, fibrous section is present at the crownshaft region, from which the inflorescence emerges. The fruits are oval, 3–4 cm in length, and reddish-brown in color.

The popularity of Kentia palms is largely due to their exceptional tolerance as indoor plants. Seed maturation requires several years. This valuable palm can be cultivated along coastal areas in warm or subtropical regions. It is sensitive to cold as well as to dry and hot winds. Similarly, it does not perform well in humid tropical regions, just as it struggles in cold climates. When initially grown in shade, plants gradually develop tolerance to sunlight.

Kentia palms are monoecious and self-fertile, meaning seed production occurs through self-pollination. Although highly resilient indoors, adequate light is necessary to promote faster growth. During the growth period, plants should be fertilized periodically. Fresh, mature seeds typically germinate within approximately two months. Seedling development is extremely slow, and several years are required before plants reach a marketable size.