Family: Arecaceae

Origin, Description & Uses:
Howea forsteriana (kentia palm) is a graceful palm native to Lord Howe Island off the east coast of Australia. It is well known for its elegant, arching fronds, slender trunk, and ability to thrive in low-light conditions, making it one of the most popular indoor palms worldwide. In landscaping, it is valued for its tropical appearance, tolerance of shade, and relatively slow growth, which allows it to be used in both outdoor garden settings in suitable climates and as a long-lived container or interior plant.

Risks & Threats:
Although kentia palm is not known to be naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands, it does possess traits that are cause for concern. It produces fleshy fruits that could potentially be dispersed by birds, and its adaptability to shaded understory environments suggests it may be able to establish in some Hawaiian habitats if conditions are favorable. While it is generally considered low-risk compared to more aggressive palm species, caution is recommended to ensure that it will not negatively impact Hawaii, and continued evaluation is warranted to better understand its potential to spread.

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized outside native range (Norfolk I., Pohnpei)
  
• Forms dense thickets in native habitat
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Tolerates wide range of soils
  
• Host for pests/pathogens (scale, mites, fungal spots)
  
• Produces viable seed
  
• Hybridizes naturally (rare)
  
• Seeds dispersed intentionally by people (widely traded)
  
• Seeds bird-dispersed
  
• Seeds survive gut passage

Low Risk Traits:

• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Non-toxic to animals and humans
  
• Not allelopathic or fire-prone
  
• Wind-pollinated (no specialist pollinators)
  
• No vegetative fragmentation
  
• Long generation time (4+ years)
  
• No water or wind dispersal
  
• No prolific seed production
  
• Unlikely to be dispersed unintentionally or as contaminant