Lipstick Palm
Cyrtostachys renda Blume
Location
Basketball
Family
Arecaceae (Palm family)
Common names
Lipstick Palm, Sealing Wax Palm, Red Sealing Wax Palm
Native range
Lowland tropical rainforests of Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, and southern Thailand
Habitat
Swampy, humid tropical forests, especially in lowland and riverine areas
Flowering
Sporadic throughout the year in suitable climates
Fruiting
Usually follows flowering, with black fruits maturing several weeks later
Conservation status
Near Threatened (NT) – mainly due to habitat loss in the wild
About this plant
Cyrtostachys renda is a slender, multi-stemmed, slow-growing clustering palm tree, typically reaching 15-20 meters tall. The stems are green with greyish or yellowish stripes, approximately 6-10 cm in diameter. It is distinct for its bright scarlet to red crown shafts, leaf sheaths, and petioles. Leaves are pinnate with about 26-40 pairs of leaflets which are waxy white beneath. The inflorescence is large and branched, bearing small flowers in clusters. Fruits are small, black with scarlet bases when mature.
Uses
Widely cultivated as an ornamental palm due to its striking red coloration which makes it popular for landscaping in tropical gardens. Traditionally, stems are used for flooring and leaves for thatching, but its primary value is ornamental.
Growing conditions
Requires a humid tropical climate (hardiness zone 11 or higher), cannot tolerate cold or drought. Thrives in full sun or partial shade and in well-draining but moist soils characteristic of peat swamp forests
Habit
Clumping, slow-growing, evergreen palm