The plant has very shiny dark leaves. The fronds stretch out like fingers on a hand from an upright furry trunk.

It does not have flowers.

Raphis palm holds up remarkably well in low light. It is the ideal plant for not very bright of locations.

Keep the soil moist at all times. However be careful not to keep it over moist as it can cause the roots to rot. Allowing the soil to become dry will cause the leaves to turn grey, brown and crunchy.

Scale is an enemy of the Raphis. Since scales can hide in the fibrous leaf bases, contact sprays such as malathion are seldom effective. A systemic insecticide which is absorbed into the plant system provides the best protection or control.

Raphis palm is one of the slowest growing plants. It can grow to 5 feet in height in clumps of stiff stems.

The Raphis palm is a relatively slow growing plant and therefore requires less fertilizing. Apply only 1/2 the recommended rate required by other foliage house plants.

The lower leaves must be trimmed as they grow old and become discolored. If new growth is dead, the whole trunk needs to be cut out, because it has rotted, and the leaves will all eventually become dry and crunchy.

Raphis palm produces a number of suckers.  The propagation is done by dividing these suckers.

The plant can be used as group plantation. It is very good for planting in shaded areas.