Ravenea rivularis
Common name: Majesty palm · Majestic palm
Ravenea rivularis is a palm native to the riverbanks of Madagascar, where it grows along streams in humid forest. It develops a single trunk crowned with long, arching pinnate fronds, and is commonly sold as an indoor palm despite preferring consistent moisture and humidity.
Care summary
Sun
Bright indirect light, some morning sun
Water
Keep consistently moist, never soggy
Soil
Rich, moisture-retentive but draining mix
Hardiness
Zones 10–11
Mature height
Up to 3 m (10 ft) indoors, much taller outdoors
Pet safe
Non-toxic to cats and dogs
Difficulty
Fussy
Propagation
Majesty palm is propagated from seed, as the single-trunk plant produces no offshoots to divide. Sow fresh seeds in a warm, consistently moist medium and expect slow, erratic germination over one to three months.
Fun facts
- It is considered vulnerable in the wild, with only a few hundred trees estimated to remain.
- Unlike most palms sold as houseplants, it dislikes drying out between waterings.
- In ideal outdoor conditions it can eventually exceed 20 m (65 ft) in height.