Kentiopsis Palms, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida

Kentiopsis is a rare New Caledonia palm that can do well in SW Florida in a protected spot, best as a specimen for collectors, with a smooth ringed trunk under a silvery-green crownshaft. It is slower than most feather palms and tender to cold. We deliver and plant field-grown Kentiopsis at 12 to 16 feet.

Light:: Full sun on the coast; filtered light helps young palms and inland sites
Water:: Moderate; keep it evenly moist with good drainage
Salt:: Low to moderate; give it shelter from direct salt spray

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Kentiopsis Palm

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Kentiopsis Palm sizes we deliver and plant

Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.

Plant	Sizes
Kentiopsis Palm	Field Grown 12'-16'

Kentiopsis Palm in SW Florida, at a glance

Mature size here: Around 25 to 30 ft tall over time; slow in the early years
Light: Full sun on the coast; filtered light helps young palms and inland sites
Water: Moderate; keep it evenly moist with good drainage
Salt tolerance: Low to moderate; give it shelter from direct salt spray
Cold tolerance: Tender. Foliage burns in the low 30s, so use a protected spot and cover young palms on frost nights
Growth rate: Slow to moderate
Florida native: No, native to New Caledonia
Botanical name: Kentiopsis oliviformis (now also listed as Chambeyronia oliviformis)

Where Kentiopsis Palm works in a SW Florida yard

Treat Kentiopsis as a specimen, not a filler: an entry courtyard, a lawn focal point or a sheltered corner near the house where you will see the crownshaft up close. It likes shelter from cold wind. Bromeliads, ti plants and a low liriope bed keep the base soft and let the trunk stand out.

Rare specimen palm
Entry courtyard focal point
Sheltered lawn accent
Silvery crownshaft display

How our crew plants it

Set Kentiopsis in a hole two to three times as wide as the root ball and no deeper, with the top of the ball at soil level. Brace the palm with three stakes for six to twelve months. Our crew waters in and cleans up. Lee and Collier allow extra watering on new plantings. Keep mulch off the trunk.

Care after planting

Feed with an 8-2-12 palm fertilizer with magnesium and micronutrients in spring and fall, and use nothing containing nitrogen or phosphorus from June 1 to September 30.
Keep the root zone evenly moist but well drained, especially in the dry season.
Protect the crown with frost cloth on freeze nights, since cold is the main risk.
Cut only fronds that are completely dead or hanging.

Kentiopsis Palm questions we hear

Can Kentiopsis palm grow in Southwest Florida?+

Yes, in a protected spot. It is a tropical palm that burns in the low 30s, so coastal Lee and Collier and sheltered courtyards are the safest sites. Inland areas like Lehigh Acres need more care, with frost cloth ready for freeze warnings.

How fast does a Kentiopsis palm grow?+

Slowly at first, and faster once it is established in the ground. Field-grown palms at 12 to 16 feet skip the slowest years, which is much of the appeal. Expect steady rather than dramatic growth, helped by regular water and a palm fertilizer.

How is Kentiopsis different from a royal palm or foxtail palm?+

Kentiopsis is a rarer, slower palm, smaller than a royal, with a smooth ringed trunk and a silvery-green crownshaft, and it is more cold tender. Royal palms grow far taller and faster, and foxtail palms have bushy, bottlebrush-like fronds. It is chosen for its look, not its speed.

Updated October 2026