Majesty Palm Plant

The majesty palm is a tropical tree that is indigenous to Madagascar and may reach heights of around 100 feet in the wild. However, this tropical beauty is becoming less common in the wild and is more often produced as an indoor tree, where stifling its roots limits the plants’ height to around 10 feet.

The majesty palm is a sturdy tropical palm with elegant, feathery fronds. Its leaves usually develop erectly from the trunk before arching at the ends to produce a broad crown. Although the majesty palm is a relative newcomer to the world of houseplants, this plant can make a wonderful addition to your home with the correct care.

Let’s learn a bit more about the majesty palm and how to grow it, shall we? You might be surprised by some of these interesting facts about majesty palms!

What is the Majesty Palm?

The majesty palm, sometimes referred to as the majestic palm, is classified as Ravenea rivularis and is a member of the Arecaceae family. They often reach a height of 10 to 12 feet indoors and are often sold in stores as houseplants. The majesty palm can occasionally reach heights of 100 feet and widths of 20 feet in its natural habitat.

This palm features long, thin “fingers” or fronds that split the upward-arching leaves. The species is indigenous to and grows in some regions of Madagascar; however, because those regions are completely encircled and divided by desert, the species’ natural range is constrained. It has become a highly popular houseplant despite being a species that is fragile in the wild because of its lovely leaves and relatively slow and manageable growth.

This species’ plants will often cluster together near the borders of rivers and natural lagoons, but they can also be found growing in shallow swamps where they have year-round access to plenty of moisture. The most common issue affecting majesty palms kept as houseplants is browning leaf tips due to their fondness for warm, moist air, which can be challenging to offer regularly in most households. This plant can only flourish when cultivated outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 11 in the United States.

How to Care for a Majesty Palm

Heat, light, and fertilization must all be properly balanced in order for majesty palms to develop well. Overfertilized plants that are raised in warm environments with little light will stretch out in search of more. Without an increase in fertilizer and water, majesty palms that receive too much sun could burn. The ideal indoor environment will generally include a sunny spot with lots of water and less fertilizer than you probably think it needs. 

Keep in mind that the majesty palm has a reputation for being a fickle plant. For novice indoor gardeners, the kentia palm, areca palm, or parlor palm are often better options for those who want to try raising indoor palms.

Make sure the potting medium you use for your majesty palm is consistently wet but not soggy. If the soil around the plant becomes too dry in between waterings, lower leaves will start to drop.

Between 65 and 85 degrees F, this plant will grow rather well. While it can survive at normal indoor humidity levels, it does really like excessive humidity. Using a humidifier might make the plants happier in colder locations where the winter air can get quite dry. Also, misting the plant regularly will make sure it receives the humidity it needs. Low humidity can favor the growth of pests, so make sure your majesty palm stays well-hydrated!

Despite the fact that majesty palms are considered understory plants in their native environment, it’s a wise idea to give them as much sunlight as you can indoors. Move stretched and bleached plants to a brighter location for a few weeks to help them recover, but avoid exposing them to direct sunshine. ​

Don’t worry about using peat-based soil and acidifying or harming your majesty palm, because these palms are acid-loving plants that thrive at pH levels as low as 5.0 or 5.5. For majesty palms, common potting soil that has more peat added to it works best. To avoid having their roots flooded, these palms require efficient drainage in both their soil and the pot they are planted in. Throughout the growing season, treat the soil your majesty palm is planted in with a diluted liquid fertilizer once or twice; do not fertilize at all during the winter when the plant is dormant or semi-dormant. Reduce or cease fertilizing if your indoor palm plant begins to stretch out. Many horticulturists use succulent fertilizers for this plant.

Using Epsom salts once a month to treat your plant’s soil, especially when planted outdoors, will provide enough magnesium to stop the leaves from turning yellow. More iron could be needed by plants to stop further yellowing and leaf loss.

How to Propagate Majesty Palms

Majesty palms are grown only from seed, and commercial seed production is few and far between. Home gardeners are extremely unlikely to have access to seeds from local garden centers and nurseries. Also, stem-cutting propagation is not a very viable way to propagate a majesty palm. Separating the offset palm pups from the mother palm by division, on the other hand, is a practical approach to propagating this plant. This approach works best when you need to repot the plant since it prevents the plant from becoming agitated by being moved around. 

The stages for division are quite simple. Your majesty palm should be carefully rolled out of the pot while it is lying on its side. Avoid pulling the palm from its pot while it is erect. Search for the mother plant’s pups, or offshoots, that you might be able to remove from the root ball.

To relax and soften the root ball so you can untangle the puppies, massage it with your fingertips. If necessary, use a sanitized and sharp knife to aid with root separation. If the puppies’ roots are too lengthy for their new pots, you can clip them.

Put the offshoots in containers with fast-draining soil. Do not allow the pots or soil to sit in water; instead, water your propagated pups in the sink until their pots begin to leak from the bottom. Place the pots in a bright area, similar to the mother plant. In approximately a month, fertilize the young palm trees and start growing them as you would a mature majesty palm.

How to Repot a Majesty Palm

Although it grows slowly, this palm might need to be repotted every year, but more likely every other year. Use a big, hefty container when repotting to keep the palm tree from toppling over and take care not to injure the root ball. These plants, which can become top-heavy, will be more stable in pots made of clay or ceramic. As a growth medium, regular potting soil combined with extra peat moss works nicely.

Moving these plants back and forth between an outside patio and an inside area as the seasons change is a good practice in cold-winter areas. Be sure to bring your plant inside before it gets too cold outside, especially if it dips under 50 degrees F. Some majesty palms can handle temperatures as low as 35 degrees F, but most cannot handle anything below 50 degrees F.

Pests and Problems for Majesty Palms

Pests including scale, whiteflies, and aphids can harm majesty palms. This plant is particularly vulnerable to mealybugs and spider mites when kept in too-low humidity levels. If at all possible, locate the infestation as soon as you can and deal with it using the least hazardous method possible, such as horticultural oil or neem oil.

Majesty palms will be very direct with you if they are not happy with their care. They are well-known for turning yellow or dropping their fronds when they are not satisfied with their light levels, humidity levels, temperatures, watering routine, etc. If your majesty palm’s leaves turn yellow, they likely need more light, more water, less water, more humidity, or more fertilizer. 

If your majesty palm starts displaying brown or burnt leaves, there is a very good chance it is being kept in direct sunlight. If possible, move your majesty palm slightly away from its light source. These palms thrive in bright, indirect sunlight, as most tropical plants do. Just as well, brown burnt leaf tips could be a sign of underwatering. If you notice brown tips on your plant’s fronds, check the soil to see if it is dry and needs some water.

Can Majesty Palms Bloom?

Until they are completely developed, majesty palms seldom ever blossom, and indoor plants hardly ever do in their lifetime. When large outside trees are planted for landscaping purposes, they may blossom with white flowers followed by red fruit, but there is no need to promote this because the blooms are not particularly spectacular or aesthetically pleasing.

Can I Prune My Majesty Palm?

Pruning is not necessary to improve the health of your majesty palm. In fact, yellow and brown leaves or fronds are common for this plant’s life cycle. They will simply drop off fronds that are dead on their own. But if you want to keep this plant looking fresh, you can remove dead fronds with clean scissors.

Are Majesty Palms Toxic?

Not at all! The majesty palm is non-toxic and safe for pets and little humans. However, if you have pets that love to chew on houseplants, any type of plant might cause very mild stomach upset. If you don’t want to risk a tummyache from your dog or damage to your plant, try to keep your majesty palm out of reach.

Do Majesty Palms Grow Slowly?

Majesty palms grow around one foot indoors per year until they reach a height of four to six feet, at which point they begin to noticeably slow down. This plant grows more quickly outside where its roots are unrestricted in areas like California, South Florida, and other tropical areas where it is often utilized as a landscaping tree.

This fancy little palm is perfect for indoor spaces that need some tropical vibes, provided you can handle its care requirements, particularly its humidity requirements. If that’s not too difficult, then you’ll be able to grow a lovely indoor palm that will last up to 20 years. How cool is that?

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Pixelbender36/Shutterstock.com