Rhapis excelsa - Rhapis Palm
Lady Palm is a dramatic, tall house plant that is easy to grow. Give one a place with bright, indirect sunlight and you'll enjoy it for many years. You can fit this palm in just about anywhere -- its fronds don't branch out widely, so it only takes up vertical space in a room.
Fronds grow in a fan pattern, each consisting of deeply veined leaflets that grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide.
You'll find that the number of leaflets on each stem will vary -- typically 5 to 10 -- but that just adds to this beautiful palm's appeal. In fact, I've never seen two Lady Palms exactly alike.
A member of the palm family, this elegant-looking plant grows in a clump of woody, upright stems. As the lower leaves fall off, they leave scars on the stems, creating an attractive bamboo-like appearance.
Repot in spring only every 3-4 years, or when this palm outgrows its container. This plant grows best when slightly root-bound, so keep it in a smallish container. Keeping Lady Palm confined to a small container will also dramatically limit its size. In fact, it can be grown in a bonsai pot. When the tree grows to more than 3 ft (90 cm) tall, top dress instead.