The Majesty Palm is a famous tropical palm known for its stunning lush dark green foliage and distinctive tropical image. This palm tree is slow-growing, but when well cared for, it can reach up to 10 ft. in height.
With its beautiful arching fronds, the Majesty Palm will surely give any space an instant tropical feel.
Learn everything you need to know about this plant in this complete care guide.
Botanical Name: ravenea rivularis
Common Name: Majesty Palm, majestic palm
Family: Arecaceae
Plant Type: Tree
Hardiness Zones: 10-11 USDA
Sun Exposure: Partial
Soil Type: Moist, well-drained
Soil pH: Acidic
Height: 10-100 ft. tall
Flower Color: Green
Native Area: Africa
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
What is a Majesty Palm?
Majesty Palm, or Ravenea Rivularis, is a robust tropical plant with feathery fronds native to Madagascar, where it can grow up to 100 ft in height in its natural habitat.
This palm used to be commonly found along river banks, but now it is increasingly rare in the wild. It is mainly grown as an indoor plant in recent times.
As a houseplant, Majesty Palm resembles a Kentia palm when it’s young. These two are among the most attractive indoor palms. However, Majesty Palms can be somewhat tricky to grow indoors successfully.
When grown indoors, this palm will grow about one foot per year until it reaches 4-6 feet in height. Then, it’ll slow down dramatically.
When outdoors, the Majesty Palm plant grows faster because its roots are free to roam.
Majesty Palms are often used as landscape trees in South Florida, California, and other tropical regions.
Majesty Palm is known for being a somewhat temperamental plant. If you’re an indoor gardening beginner, you should consider one of these plants instead:
- Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana)
- Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
- Parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
- Cat palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum)
Photo Credit: Shutterstock.
Types of Majesty Palm
There are no cultivars of Ravenea Rivularis. Only about 20 species are included in the Ravanea genus, and they are all considered seriously endangered. Majesty Palms are attractive dense clusters of trunkless plants and the only specie commonly cultivated for garden or interior house plant use.
Majesty Palm Care
Bearing its graceful long green fronds is no wonder why this plant is a popular indoor palm tree.
The Majesty Palm is an excellent addition to grace any indoor space. Although they are considered hard-to-tame plants, learning how to care for them is totally worth it.
Here’s everything you need to know about Majesty Palm plant care tips.
Light Requirements
Although they are understory plants in their natural habitat and can tolerate medium indirect light, Majesty Palms should receive plenty of bright indirect light when grown indoors.
Stretched and bleached plants should be moved into a brighter spot for a few weeks but not exposed to full sunlight.
Water Requirements
Keep the plant’s potting medium evenly moist but do not let it get waterlogged.
Avoid letting your plant’s soil dry too much between watering, or your palm can lose its lower leaves.
Humidity Preference
Majesty Palm is a tropical plant that likes moisture. It prefers high humidity, although it can survive normal household humidity levels.
Avoid low humidity levels as it encourages insect pests. Running a humidifier nearby the plant or misting it boosts humidity levels and ensures the palm gets the humidity it craves.
Temperature Preference
Average home temperatures of 65ºF to 85ºF are ideal for this plant.
If you are comfortable, your Majesty Palm is likely comfortable too.
Soil Requirements
Majesty Palms are acid-loving plants that thrive best with pH levels as low as 5.0, so there is no need to worry about a peat-based mixture hurting your palm.
A commercial standard potting mix with a bit of extra peat is the ideal growing medium for this plant. Majesty Palms need good drainage to prevent water-logged roots.
Fertilizer Requirements
Feed with a weak liquid fertilizer at least once during spring, the active growing season.
Do not feed at all during winter. If your Majesty Palm starts to stretch out, stop fertilizing.
A cactus fertilizer mix is a good choice for this plant.
Photo Credit: Dreamstime.
Majesty Palm Propagation
Unlike most plants, propagation through stem cuttings is not an option. However, division or offset “pups” separating from the mother palm is a good option.
This method is best done when repotting the plant so it is not stressed by being moved too much.
Here’s how to propagate through division:
- Remove the plant from the pot by gently rolling it out of its container while it’s on its side.
- Look for offshoots, or pups, from the mother plant that can be separated from the root ball.
- Massage the root ball to soften it so you can untangle the pups.
- Use a disinfected sharp knife to separate the roots. You can trim the pups’ roots if they’re too long for new pots.
- Place the offshoots in pots filled with fast-draining soil.
- Water the pots thoroughly until it drips from the bottom, but do not let the pot sit in the water,
- Place the pots in a bright spot and fertilize the baby palms in a month or so.
Photo Credit: Dreamstime.
Common Problems Seen With Majesty Palm
Like any other houseplant whose needs are unmet, Majesty Palms can manifest problems, pests, and even diseases. Here are some of the most common issues Majesty Palms owners may encounter.
Pests
Majesty Palms are vulnerable to pests such as white flies, aphids, and scales.
Low humidity levels make this palm especially susceptible to mealybugs and spider mites. These pest infestations can be treated with non-toxic options like horticultural or neem oil if caught early.
Yellow leaves
Yellow leave can be caused by various reasons: lack of light, lack of water, lack of humidity, or a nutrient deficiency.
Keep an eye out for what may be causing your plant’s green leaves to turn yellow and fix the problem.
You can add fertilizer if lighting, water, and humidity needs are covered.
Leaf blights/leaf spots
Like most palm trees, Majesty palms are susceptible to specific pathogens, most of which cause leaf blights and leaf spots.
These signs can be easily mistaken for a nutritional deficiency. However, this is most often a sign of disease in plants.
Leaves Turning Brown
Browning leaves are a common sign of too much direct sunlight.
Move your plant by a sunny window but with slightly less direct light.
Majesty Palm Toxicity
Majesty Plants are non-toxic. This makes them an entirely safe choice for plant parents with children and pets!
Other Plant Guides from Planet Natural:
20 Most Popular Types of Palm Trees for Homeowners
26 Common House Plants That Are Perfect for Every Home
11 Best Indoor Plants of 2023 (Easy, Low-Maintenance Plants)
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