Howea belmoreana is endemic to Lord Howe Island, a small volcanic remnant off the coast of Australia, where it grows at higher elevations in contrast to its coastal relative, the kentia palm. In the wild it can reach forty feet; indoors, after many years of unhurried growth, ten feet is a reasonable expectation. The tightly spaced rings on its trunk — each one a leaf scar — are a legible record of that slowness. The species epithet honors Sir Somerset Richard Lowry-Corry, 4th Earl of Belmore, who served as governor of New South Wales.

As a houseplant it asks for bright indirect light, careful watering with chlorine-free water, and roots left largely undisturbed. It is more demanding than its cousin Howea forsteriana and should not be the first palm attempted by a beginner. The potting mix must drain freely, and the plant performs best when allowed to become pot-bound before any repotting is attempted. The fronds are distinctly recurved, curling back on themselves in a way that distinguishes it immediately from the kentia palm. It is not an easy plant, but for those prepared to meet its requirements, the slow accumulation of presence is its own reward.