Having a parlor palm, majesty palm, or similar house-appropriate palm is a great way to liven up any home.
These low-maintenance and fairly durable palms are a fast and easy way to spruce up any corner and bring a touch of nature indoors to enjoy year-round.
Both palms offer a stunning display that will thrive and be enjoyed by friends and family for years to come if you take care of them under the right conditions.
The main distinction that exists between parlor palm and majesty palm is the general size and leaf shape. A majesty palm’s leaves are more delicate and can get quite long. The parlor palms have leave lobes that are generally thicker and not quite as delicate looking.
The parlor palm’s habit is to grow in a more compact and thick manner where the majesty has an upright and more fountain like appearance. Both are smaller compared to normal single trunk palm trees of the tropics but in general the majesty palm will get bigger than a parlor palm in just about any situation.
Comparing these two indoor palms can help make it easier to see which one is best suited for your unique wants and needs.
Let’s get started with a quick comparison!
| Parlor Palm | Majesty Palm | |
USDA Hardiness Zone | 10–12 | 9–11 |
| Scientific Name | Chamaedorea elegans | Raveane rivularis |
| Mature Height | 3 to 8 feet | 10 to 12 feet |
| Mature Width | 1 to 3 feet | 3 to 5 feet |
| Growth Rate | Slow | Slow |
| Light Requirement | Partial with morning sun | Partial to full morning sun |
| Soil Type | Indoors: rich well-drained potting mix | Indoors: rich well-drained potting mix |
| Soil pH | Neutral to slightly acidic | Neutral to slightly acidic |
| Watering Frequency | Thorough soaking every 7-10 days | Thorough soaking once every week |
| Pests | Scale, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, worms | Caterpillars, mites, scale, thrips |
| Diseases | Fungus, root rot, mold, powdery mildew | Fungus, root rot, mold, powdery mildew |
Difference Between Parlor Palm and Majesty Palm
With the basics now laid out it is time to take a deeper look into what makes both of these plans such great options for homeowners looking to add some color, fresh air, and ambiance to their homes.
Both the parlor palm and the majesty palm have features that make them great choices for the home.
Which one is right for you? Let’s figure it out!
Leaves Shape and Texture
Both of these houseplants are known for their beautiful and elegant palm-frond foliage.
The parlor palm will be the one with much smaller leaves and have a smaller stem and overall frond or leave shape and size.
The majesty palm leaves are fuller and longer with a more elegant and dainty look with a flowing or fountain like overall look.
Both plants are often described as have a fine leaf texture.
Leaves Color
People like both these palms largely due to the overall aesthetics of the plant and the way they easily bring a touch of exotic forest into the home.
Both plants have a dark to medium green look to mature leaves, with fresh new growth often having a brighter yellow green tone.
Some brown leaves will naturally fall off as the plant grows and matures.
When both plants reach mature heights, the bottom most leaves will start to slowly mature and fall off each season.
Height and Structure
The parlor palm is by far the smaller of the two and is better suited for small homes and apartments with is max height of 3 to 8 feet.
It is also the much slower growing of these two, so, it will take much longer to reach its max height and outgrow the corner it is placed in.
The majesty palm is a much larger plant with a maximum height of 12 feet, or more when giving good conditions and proper care.
It will need care and room to grow though it will take years for it to top off at max height.
It is also important to note that both these palms are unlikely to exceed 5-6 feet when grown indoors.
Growing Requirements
Homeowners must also keep in mind that these palms originate from tropical areas of native rainforest, and they thrive under hot and humid conditions.
Both prefer a range in temperature of around 65-80 °F (18-27°C).
They can handle about 10 degrees warmer and 5 degrees colder but should always be kept as warm as possible.
They need bright but indirect sun through a window and appreciated added humidity in the air.
Sudden drops in temperature will shock the plant, so protect it from the cold and avoid putting in the way of AC draft.
Low temps and sudden rises and falls in temperatures are going to kill the plant, and you will start to see the leaves tun yellow them brown the fall off.
Watering Requirements
Both the parlor palm and the majesty palm require little watering.
This is a big part of what makes them great as houseplants for those who tend to forget about their plants, sometimes for weeks on end.
The parlor palm and the majesty palm do not like damp or wet soil and are fairly drought tolerate.
So they cannot tolerate being over watered, it will cause them to become stressed out, and they will start to wilt and die as a result.
Weekly deep waterings are best, and the soil can completely dry out for a day or two between waterings without causing harm to the palms.
Soil
The parlor palm enjoys organic rich and well drained soils so a potting mix that is peat-based works great for indoors.
Adding in some sand can help with water retention without risking the roots becoming waterlogged or saturated.
The majesty palm can survive under the same conditions, so it is easy to use the same sort of potting mix between the two varieties of palms.
Fertilizer
In general, the parlor palm does not need much if any fertilizer due to its smaller size and slow growth.
If the leaves are a little yellow or the plant is not looking healthy you can use a diluted liquid fertilizer on it each watering for a few weeks and that should perk it up.
The majesty palm does like some fertilizer during the warmer months when it is actively growing.
With a faster growth habit and overall larger size it can use the fertilizer to ensure healthy frond growth.
Again, a diluted water-based fertilizer is perfect and can be used with each watering for the active growing months.
Pests and Diseases
These plants share common pests that generally tend to attack palms that are weakened or stressed in some way.
The best way to protect against scale, thrips, mealy bugs and similar pests is to keep your parlor and majesty palms healthy and ensure they are grown in appropriate conditions.
Other issues such as rust leaf rot, and root rot can affect both palm species and are usually caused by poor watering and fertilizing practices or an environment that is too cold.
Taking care of houseplants is a popular and wonderful pastime for many homeowners.
With palms being a common choice, knowing how to take care of your plant is essential to keeping it looking its best year round!
Related: Parlor Palm vs. Areca Palm, Kentia Palm vs. Parlor Palm, Parlor Palm vs. Cat Palm