| Sealing Wax Palm | |
| Cyrtostachys renda |
Medium sized palm with bright red stalks, the only such palm in the world.
Description: Medium sized, slow-growing and slender palm to 30ft in its native range, often only to 10-15ft elsewhere. Its best known feature is its brightly red colored trunk and fronds, making it instantly recognizable from other palms.
Hardiness: It is not hardy, surviving only brief temperature drops into the 40's. Ideal year-round temperatures range from 75-85F.
Growing Environment: Grows well in both full sun or part shade. Tricky to grow, the sealing wax palm needs high humidity, well-drained soil, and is not tolerant of drought or wind. As they naturally grow in swamps, they are highly tolerant of flooding and can be grown in standing water.
Propagation: By seeds, which take 2-4 months (and sometimes up to 9 months) to germinate.
Uses: Often grown in tropical regions for its pretty red color.
Native Range: Native to swampy areas of peninsular Malaysia and the island of Sumatra.