Cyrtostachys renda (Red Sealing Wax Palm, Sealing-Wax Palm, Maharajah Palm, Lipstick Palm)
Botanical Information
Family | Arecaceae |
Genus | Cyrtostachys |
Species | renda |
Synonyms | Cyrtostachys lakka |
Category | Perennials, Tropicals, Woody |
Type | Shrub (evergreen) |
Origin | Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, and Borneo. |
Details
USDA Hardiness Zone | 11 |
USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
RHS Hardiness Zone | H1c |
RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
Temperature (°C) | Above 4.5 |
Temperature (°F) | 40 |
Height | 12 m |
Growth | Slow |
Description and Growing Information
General Description | A clumping palm, up to 12 m tall, with characteristically bright red leaf sheaths (each about 60 cm long) around the stems. |
Landscape | Roadside palm, parks and gardens, hedge or screening, and focal plant. |
Propagation | Propagate by seed or by division of suckers. |
Cultivation | Plant in full sun to partial sun in a well-draining sandy soil. Allow soil to completely dry between waterings. |
Notable Specimens | Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand. |
Habitat | It grows near the sea, by tidal rivers, and in freshwater or peat swamp forests. |
Bark/Stem Description | Crown shaft is distinctively red in colour. |
Leaf Description | About 1.5 m long and 0.6 m wide, have bright red stalks and mid-ribs and are pinnate and alternately-arranged. Each leaf consists of leaflets that are boat-shaped, slightly grey on the underside and about 45 cm long and 4 cm wide. |
Flower Description | Green before turning to red, with two large spathes (modified leaves) that are 60 cm by 60 cm. Flowers are pollinated by bees. |
Fruit Description | 18 mm fruit that is black when ripe, containing a 12 mm seed. |
Photographs
![Cyrtostachys renda, form. Cyrtostachys renda, form.](photos/Cyrtostachys-renda-form.jpg)
Cyrtostachys renda, form.
![Cyrtostachys renda, leaf, Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand. Cyrtostachys renda, leaf, Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand.](photos/Cyrtostachys-renda-rpr-lf1.jpg)
Cyrtostachys renda, leaf, Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand.
![](photos/Cyrtostachys-renda-bark.jpg)
![Cyrtostachys renda, form, Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand. Cyrtostachys renda, form, Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand.](photos/Cyrtostachys-renda-rpr-frm1.jpg)
Cyrtostachys renda, form, Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand.
![Cyrtostachys renda, form, Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand. Cyrtostachys renda, form, Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand.](photos/Cyrtostachys-renda-rpr-frm2.jpg)
Cyrtostachys renda, form, Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand.
![Cyrtostachys renda, bark, Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand. Cyrtostachys renda, bark, Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand.](photos/Cyrtostachys-renda-rpr.jpg)
Cyrtostachys renda, bark, Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand.
![Cyrtostachys renda, bark, Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand. Cyrtostachys renda, bark, Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand.](photos/Cyrtostachys-renda-rpr-bk2.jpg)
Cyrtostachys renda, bark, Royal Park Rajapruek, Mae Hia, Thailand.