Botanical Name: Ravenea rivularis

Zones: 10+

Where to buy this plant: Walmart - The Home Depot - Lowe's

Update: I found an interesting article by Robert Barrett Jr. about potted Majesty Palms. I disagree with him about the plants standing in water - I have found the opposite to be true. Also, repetitive exposure to nighttime temperatures below 50° F will cause the midrib of the frond leaflets to “break” - Barrett suggests that 65° F is the lower limit that Majesty Palms can take without damage -  I think that is too conservative.
 

How to Grow a Majestic Palm in Minnesota

Updated February 26, 2011

This is actually a full size tree (15-40 feet tall) in its native of Madagascar, a small island off the east coast of Africa. It grows along rivers and swamps in the rain forests, and needs lots of water and fertilizer to stay healthy. Keep in mind that most palms that are sold as houseplants come from areas where the soil is very moist. If you let the soil dry out, the lower leaves will tend to die. It is also normal for the lower leaves to die when new leaves are emerging, but suspect lack of water first. For anybody that likes palms, I would recommend that you buy one for $10-$15 and put it in a place where it will greet you when you come home from work - for some odd reason they seem to reduce stress. Just make sure you water it a lot, or get one of those glass watering bulbs.