With good care, they grow relatively large, are not too demanding and are ideal for green interior design: We are talking about magnificent indoor palms. Not only "real" palm trees populate our rooms. Some plants, such as the yucca, are referred to as palm trees in our language, but belong to a different plant family. In this article, we want to take a closer look at the most common types so you can identify the palm tree that thrives where you live.

This is a stick palm

How to recognize "real" palm trees

Due to their growth form, real palm trees can be recognized without a doubt by the following characteristics, despite their immense biodiversity:

  • Palm trees do not have any secondary growth in thickness. They therefore only grow in width at first and then only increase in size.
  • The heart, from which the leaves sprout, moves up with it. This forms the characteristic tuft that makes the plants so attractive.
  • The dried leaves are shed and form the trunk.
  • Unlike trees, palms do not branch.

Exceptions confirm the rule, even with palm trees. For example, there are palm species that form lateral shoots from which even offshoots can be cut. Other varieties form underground runners and grow like a small clump of palms.

Some palm trees that are often found in our rooms:

  • Golden fruit palm: Its strongly feathered, dense foliage in a juicy green is extremely attractive.
  • Mountain palm: It also has very strongly pinnate leaves. This slow-growing palm tree prefers light to partially shaded locations in the sun.
  • Hemp palm: With its expansive, stable fans, it requires a relatively large amount of space and is very attractive thanks to its strongly structured trunk.
  • Kentia Palm: It has slightly overhanging pinnate leaves resembling those of the mountain palm.

The yucca, an asparagus plant

Probably the best-known indoor palm is the yucca (palm line), which, however, does not belong to the palm family. Relatively undemanding, this plant can grow up to five meters high indoors and looks very appealing with its attractive foliage. Unlike many palm trees, yuccas flower regularly and then bear strongly fragrant inflorescences that look like lilies of the valley.

The Madagascar Palm

This succulent even forgives occasional care mistakes and is extremely robust. It is one of the dogbane plants and should therefore be placed out of the reach of animals. Like a palm tree, it only forms elongated individual leaves in the upper area, which, unlike palm leaves, are neither fan-shaped nor pinnate. The trunk is heavily thorned, which looks extremely attractive.

The dragon tree

It is also one of the asparagus plants and, if you look closely, it is very similar to the yucca. However, it has finer foliage that can vary in color.

tips

Indoor palms are particularly attractive when you set them up in small groups. The differently shaped and colored leaves create a very attractive look and an enchanting play of light.

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Care tips