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Ravenea rivularis (Majesty Palm)
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© tangatawhenua, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC) · iNaturalist
Houseplants

Ravenea rivularis

Majesty Palm

Arecaceae
Madagascar — riverbanks (the 'rivularis' name means 'of rivers')

At a Glance

TypePalm
HabitUpright
FoliageEvergreen
Height48-120 inches (120-300 cm) indoors
Width36-60 inches (90-150 cm)
Maturity10 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

10 - 11
Zone 10Zone 11
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
What's my zone? →
Frost Tolerancetender

Key Features

Container Friendly
Maintenancemoderate

Overview

Ravenea rivularis is the majesty palm — a large indoor palm widely sold at big-box stores, growing 48–120 inches (120–300 cm) indoors. Dark green long arching pinnate fronds on a smooth gray trunk give a regal presence — the 'majesty' name is earned. However: this is a demanding indoor palm. The Madagascar riverbank origin (the species name 'rivularis' means 'of rivers') means it wants consistently moist soil, high humidity (50%+), bright indirect light, and acidic soil (pH 5.0–6.5) — conditions difficult to maintain in typical indoor environments. The result: brown leaf tips, yellowing fronds, and spider mite infestations are extremely common complaints. Majesty palm is good-looking but challenging — many specimens decline within 1–2 years indoors. For more reliable indoor palms, parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans) and kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) are better-suited to typical home conditions. Non-toxic to pets. Feed with acidic fertilizer (azalea/rhododendron formula) to maintain the low pH requirement.

Native Range

Ravenea rivularis is native to Madagascar — riverbanks. The species name 'rivularis' means 'of rivers'.

Suggested Uses

Used as a large indoor palm — with the understanding that it requires more care than parlor palm or kentia palm. Bright, humid rooms. Non-toxic for pet-safe homes. Widely sold at big-box stores.

How to Identify

Identified by dark green long arching pinnate fronds on a smooth gray trunk — a large palm widely sold at big-box stores. The arching fronds and the smooth trunk are the visual identifiers. Brown leaf tips are nearly universal on indoor specimens (a humidity/water issue, not a species defect).

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4' - 10'
Width/Spread3' - 5'

Reaches mature size in approximately 10 years

Colors

Flower Colors

cream

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Extremely rare indoors. The arching pinnate fronds are the year-round display.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Cream (extremely rare indoors)

Foliage Description

Dark green, long arching pinnate (feather-shaped) fronds

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Partial Shade
Requires 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)
357912
Soil Types
loam
Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

5-10 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Bright indirect light. Keep soil consistently moist (not soggy). Humidity 50%+ is required — a humidifier or pebble tray helps. Acidic soil (pH 5.0–6.5). Feed with azalea fertiliser. Non-toxic. More demanding than other indoor palms.

Pruning

Remove dead lower fronds. Brown tips can be trimmed with scissors. Never cut the terminal bud.

Maintenance Level

moderate

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 10 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic