Areca catechu (Betel Nut Palm) Plants GrowTropicals
Betel Nut Palm

Areca catechu (Betel Nut Palm)

£19.49 £21.99 SAVE 11%
Pot size
12cm £19.49

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Jungle Mix - Premium Houseplant Potting Mix
The perfect soil Jungle Mix - Premium Houseplant Potting Mix · 2.5L · £4.99
Description

Areca catechu, the Betel Nut Palm, is the true betel palm of tropical Asia, a slender, single stemmed feather palm grown for its elegant arching fronds. As a young plant it makes a striking, upright tropical accent for a warm, bright room.

Origins

Native across tropical Asia and the western Pacific, Areca catechu has been cultivated for centuries for its seed, the areca or betel nut. It is a genuine palm in the family Arecaceae and brings an instant jungle feel indoors. It sits happily among our warmth loving houseplants and, as a lover of moist air, our humidity loving houseplants.

Light, water and humidity

Give it bright, indirect light and warmth. Let the top few centimetres of compost dry before watering thoroughly, and never let it stand in water. It prefers humid air, so mist it or group it with other plants, and expect the odd brown tip in a dry, centrally heated room. A free draining tropical mix from our houseplant substrates keeps its roots healthy.

A note on toxicity

This is the true betel nut palm, and its seed contains arecoline, so the plant is toxic if eaten. Do not confuse it with the common, pet safe Areca palm sold as Dypsis lutescens, which is a different species. Keep Areca catechu out of reach of pets and children, and treat it as a decorative plant only rather than anything to be tasted.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

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How to care for Betel Nut Palm

Give me bright light out of the midday sun and water me when the top of my soil feels dry.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
Get to know me

About Betel Nut Palm

Areca catechu (Betel Nut Palm) is a houseplant that takes a little effort. It needs bright indirect light, watering once the top 2 to 3cm of compost has dried out, a little extra humidity and a minimum temperature of 15°C. It is harmful to pets and small children if eaten.

Good for

Living Room Kitchen

Care level

EasyChallenge

A little effort

Light

ShadeFull sun

Bright, indirect light

Bright, indirect light. A young betel nut palm takes plenty of light but scorches in harsh, direct midday sun through glass. Bright, filtered light near a window is ideal. Read moreShow less

Bright, indirect light. A young betel nut palm takes plenty of light but scorches in harsh, direct midday sun through glass. Bright, filtered light near a window is ideal.

Watering

Evenly moistDries out fully

Let the top few centimetres dry out

Keep the compost lightly moist through the growing season. Let the top few centimetres dry, then water thoroughly with tepid water and drain. Palms resent both drought and standing water, so a steady rhythm suits it best. Reduce watering through winter. Read moreShow less

Keep the compost lightly moist through the growing season. Let the top few centimetres dry, then water thoroughly with tepid water and drain. Palms resent both drought and standing water, so a steady rhythm suits it best. Reduce watering through winter.

Humidity

Average homeHigh humidity

Prefers a little extra humidity

Prefers humidity. Mist regularly, group it with other plants or run a humidifier to keep the fronds from browning at the tips in dry, heated rooms. Read moreShow less

Prefers humidity. Mist regularly, group it with other plants or run a humidifier to keep the fronds from browning at the tips in dry, heated rooms.

Temperature

Keep above 15°C · Likes a warm room

Warm and stable, ideally 18 to 27C. Keep it above 15C at all times and well away from cold draughts. Read moreShow less

Warm and stable, ideally 18 to 27C. Keep it above 15C at all times and well away from cold draughts.

Feeding

Feed monthly with a balanced fertiliser from spring to autumn, and let it rest over winter.

Growth habit

Upright →

Plant type

Palm →

Toxicity

Harmful if chewed or swallowed. Keep it out of reach of pets and small children, and wash your hands after pruning.

Family

Arecaceae

Also known as

Areca catechu (Betel Nut Palm)

Genus

Areca
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the same as the common Areca palm?

No, and it is an important difference. The plant sold in most shops as the Areca palm or Golden Cane palm is Dypsis lutescens, which the ASPCA lists as non toxic. Areca catechu is the true betel nut palm, a separate species whose seed contains arecoline and is toxic if eaten. If you specifically want a pet safe palm, choose Dypsis lutescens instead.

Is the Betel Nut Palm toxic to pets?

Yes. Areca catechu produces arecoline in its seed, and the plant should be treated as toxic if eaten by cats, dogs or people. Keep it well out of reach of pets and children and wash your hands after handling. This is one of the ways it differs from the unrelated, pet safe Areca palm, Dypsis lutescens.

Why are the frond tips turning brown?

Brown, crispy tips almost always mean the air is too dry, and sometimes that the plant has been over or under watered. Raise the humidity by misting, grouping plants or using a humidifier, keep watering steady so the compost never dries out fully or sits soggy, and use filtered rather than heavily chlorinated water where you can.

How much light does the Betel Nut Palm need?

Bright, indirect light suits it best. A young betel nut palm enjoys plenty of light, but its fronds scorch in fierce direct sun through glass, so a position near a bright window with some diffusion is ideal. In a dark corner the growth slows and weakens.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 7 days with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
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Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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Areca catechu (Betel Nut Palm)
£19.49 £21.99