It's endemic to Australia's Lord Howe Island so the genus, Howea, is named after the island. The species, forsteriana, was named after Johann Reinhold Forster and Georg Forster, a father and son naturalist duo who accompanied Captain James Cook on his second voyage to the Pacific.
Since the Victorian era it's been a popular house plant because it thrives in low light, low humidity, poor air quality and low temperatures. It suits a range of conditions inside and can live for a long time before outgrowing the house. This specimen was growing in a private residence and had outgrown its space, so was transplanted in February into its new home in the winter garden.
Temperatures as low as -5degC are OK for brief periods, but it generally does not do well below 10degC, so it grows better in warmer parts of NZ, especially coastal areas. If you find a suitable microclimate down here, this palm could grow outside, too.
Tolerant of a range of sunny or shady locations, it can also cope with a variety of soils as long as they're free-draining. Let it dry out between waterings to avoid wet feet, as root rot can be its biggest killer.
Garden Life is produced by Dunedin Botanic Garden. For further information contact Stephen Bishop.
