Lady Palm

Rhapis excelsa

Family: ArecaceaeOrigin: Southern China and VietnamZones: 9a-11b

true palm
shade-tolerant houseplant or landscape palm

Pet & Human Safety

People: Not researchedPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Hazardous parts

Not yet checked.

Preparation

Not documented as a food plant in the sources checked.

Hazard type

Not yet checked.

Hazard route

Not yet checked.

How complete this information is

We have not researched the safety of this plant yet.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

Non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses per both ASPCA (under the older synonym name) and NC State (under the current accepted name). This is a genuine exact-species confirmation, not an inference from a wider group, because the synonym relationship is confirmed by GBIF's taxonomic backbone rather than assumed from similar names. ASPCA is the only source used, and one source cannot show a plant is safe, so no safe verdict is given. Keep dogs, cats and horses from eating it.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii and Chamaedorea elegans, the separate bamboo-palm guide): three different plants share the 'Bamboo Palm' nickname per NC State. To tell them apart: No single visual cue confirmed across all three; check the botanical name on the tag rather than relying on 'Bamboo Palm' alone.. A 'Bamboo Palm' tag could mean this species or either Chamaedorea species, which have their own separate care and toxicity records.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

Get the app: coming soon

Care

Hardiness zones: 9a-11b
Water needs: Regular watering except reduced in winter.
Mature size: 4-12 ft tall, 6-15 ft wide.

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

Get the app: coming soon

Anatomy & Guilds

Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics

How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.

Get the app: coming soon

Field Doctor

What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.

Get the app: coming soon

Vintage Plates

Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.

Get the app: coming soon

Sources

How we choose sources

Add to wishlist