Areca Palm

Meet the palm that turns any room into a tropical getaway! The Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens), also called Butterfly Palm or Golden Cane Palm, comes from Madagascar and grows in clumps of slender golden stems topped with feathery, arching fronds. It's one of the most popular indoor palms around, and it's non-toxic to cats and dogs, which makes it a great pick for homes with pets and kids!

Browse our Areca Palm collection or read our in-depth Dypsis lutescens care guide.

Safe for pets and children
Repot once every 3 years
Fertilize once a month
Bright, indirect light
Average water

Your new best fronds!

Areca Palm (S)

Kamden

2100

28 cm

10 cm

Areca Palm (L)

Kamden

5900

60 cm

21 cm

Areca Palm (M)

Kamden

2600

33 cm

15 cm

About Areca Palm

The Areca Palm is native to eastern Madagascar, where it grows in tropical forests and along riverbanks. Today it's planted in gardens all over the tropics and is one of the world's best-selling indoor palms. You may see it labeled Dypsis lutescens or by its newer botanical name, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens: same plant!

Areca palms often top 'best air-purifying plants' lists, thanks to former NASA researcher Bill Wolverton, who rated them highly in his indoor-air research. They also release moisture through their fronds, adding a little natural humidity. Just keep expectations real: in a normal home, fresh air and ventilation still do most of the work.

Good news: the ASPCA lists the Areca Palm as non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses, which makes it a stress-free amigo for homes with curious pets and little ones. Eating a lot of any plant can still cause a mild upset stomach, so discourage serious nibblers. And don't confuse it with the Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta), which isn't a true palm and is highly toxic!

Caring for Areca Palm

Water when the top 25–50% of the soil has dried out, aiming for soil that's evenly moist but never soggy or bone-dry. In spring and summer that's often about once a week; in fall and winter, let it dry a little more between drinks. Areca palms are sensitive to salts and minerals in tap water, so if the tips keep browning, switch to filtered or rain water and flush the soil with plenty of water every few months.

Bright, indirect light is ideal, like a spot near a south- or west-facing window filtered by a sheer curtain. A little gentle morning sun is fine, but harsh midday sun scorches the fronds, while too little light leads to slow, sparse growth. Keep your amigo away from cold drafts and heat vents, and in summer it can vacation on a shady balcony once nights stay above 12°C (55°F).

Feed once a month in spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant or palm fertilizer diluted to half-strength. Skip the snacks in fall and winter, when growth slows down. Too much fertilizer builds up salts in the soil, which shows up as brown tips.

Areca palms like a snug fit, so repot only every 3 years or so in spring, when roots fill the pot. Go up just one size (about 2 inches wider) and use a heavy pot with drainage holes so a tall palm doesn't tip over. A rich, well-draining potting mix with some perlite or bark is perfect; keep the stems at the same depth as before.

Only remove fronds once they're fully brown or yellow, cutting them close to the stem with clean pruners; partly yellow fronds are still sending nutrients back to the plant. Brown tips can be trimmed with scissors, following the natural leaf shape and leaving a thin edge of brown. Never cut off the top of a stem, as that's where new fronds grow from. Indoor areca palms almost never flower.

Areca Palm SOS

Brown tips are the classic areca complaint, usually caused by dry air, salt buildup or uneven watering. Yellowing lower fronds can be normal aging, but lots of yellowing often means overwatering or a hungry plant. Spider mites love warm, dry indoor air, so check under the fronds in winter and give your amigo a lukewarm shower now and then to keep pests away.