How do you sow and grow the Cyrtostachys Renda - Lipstick Palm from seed?

Finding a good evergreen palm can sometimes be quite a challenge. Cyrtostachys renda (sir-toh-STAY-kiss REN-duh), however, is a very attractive option for those who want a small to medium-sized shrubby palm.

This member of the Arecaceae family is sometimes also called the Cyrtostachys lakka and is perhaps best known by the common name Lipstick palm.

The cyrtostachys renda (Lipstick palm) has several common names, including:

• Maharaja palm
• Rajah wax palm
• Red sealing wax palm
• Sealing wax palm
• Sumatra wax palm

Most of these names refer to the vibrant red crown shafts and petioles (leaf sheaths), which resemble traditional sealing wax.

The palm stays low enough to be grown indoors. Indoors, the cyrtostachys renda benefits from the more stable environment. Outdoors, the palm also thrives under the right conditions.

The cyrtostachys renda is native to peat swamp forests and the tropical regions of Australia and Southeast Asia. The palm grows wild in Borneo (Indonesia), Brunei, Malaysia, New Guinea, Singapore, Sumatra, and Thailand.

The lipstick palm naturally grows in wet areas such as rainforests and riverbanks. It is widely cherished for its colorful and unique appearance.

Care of the Cyrtostachys Renda palm

Size and growth

What makes this red palm a great palm to grow indoors is its relatively low height. The slow-growing lipstick palm often only reaches between 2.5 and 4.5 meters tall in the wild with a width of up to 3 meters.

The palm can reach a potential height of 12 to 15 meters under ideal conditions.

Like other palms, the trunk of a lipstick palm is highlighted by attractive leaf scars that start green. These fade to orange or brown-green and eventually become dull gray.

As a "suckering" plant, however, it can produce several slender trunks within the clump, resulting in a naturally dense, multi-layered appearance.

Each crown shaft provides space for petioles, which range in color from bright red to chestnut brown. The many pinnate leaves extending from the petioles are 120 cm to 150 cm long with a dark green upper side and gray-green underside.

Each leaf has about 50 pairs of leaflets.

Bloom and scent of the Cyrtostachys Renda palm

The cyrtostachys renda palm is a monoecious plant that normally blooms in July. The inconspicuous green-white inflorescence grows in groups of three (one female and two male) on small plumes that appear under the crown. These give way to small, blackish egg-shaped palm seeds about 1.3 cm long.

Light & temperature for the Cyrtostachys Renda palm

It is usually best to keep the cyrtostachys renda palm in partial shade or filtered sunlight until it is older. After that, it can tolerate both partial shade and full sun.

This palm can survive outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 11-12, but is very cold-sensitive and will die back in frost.

The cyrtostachys renda palm should also be partially shaded in areas with intense heat or places with strong wind. For the palm's health, higher humidity is preferred.

Some enthusiasts have successfully grown the cyrtostachys renda palm in zone 10, but the risk of a temperature drop makes this very difficult.

Watering and feeding the Cyrtostachys Renda palm

The cyrtostachys renda palm needs a lot of water. It cannot survive long in standing water, although it tolerates it for a while. Ideally, the soil around it should be kept moist.

High humidity is also beneficial for the Cyrtostachys Renda palm

A good palm fertilizer with monthly added micronutrients and trace elements is best. Especially for soils with a higher pH where micronutrients are often lacking.

Soil & Transplanting of the Cyrtostachys Renda palm

Although the lipstick palm adapts well, the palm can be temperamental due to high sensitivity to change. The best soils are rich, loamy, moist soils with low acidity.

Well-draining soil is best, as overly soggy soil can damage the palm over time. Higher nitrogen levels are also preferred.

Transplanting should generally be avoided, although it can be done with some care. Make sure the new pot has good soil and fertilizer.

Add some root hormone and organic compost to stimulate root growth. Finally, soak the palm before transplanting and then water it 2 to 3 times a day for the first 3 to 4 weeks.

Care and maintenance of the Cyrtostachys Renda palm

The cyrtostachys renda palm requires a moderate amount of care. Regular pruning of damaged or diseased leaves that have lost their color can have a big impact on both the appearance and health of the palm.

Avoid pruning leaves while they are still green, as these palms produce only a limited number of leaves per year.

Excess "suckers" should be pruned to limit spreading. This is especially true for younger or potted plants.

What is the best way to grow a Cyrtostachys Renda Palm?

It can be very difficult to grow the lipstick palm outside the tropics, especially from seed. Careful attention must be paid to keeping temperature, humidity, and soil quality stable.

Use only fresh cyrtostachys renda seeds and expect a germination period of 2 months to a year.

An easier way to propagate is by harvesting stems from a mature plant. Carefully separate the shoots along with their roots using a sharp spade and plant them where desired.

Main pest or disease problems of the Cyrtostachys Renda Palm

This palm has moderate salt tolerance and can withstand short-term flooding. It was previously listed as vulnerable from 1995 to 2000 due to extensive logging of this beautiful palm.

In Indonesia, laws were passed in 1999 to protect the plant from harvesting.

It is largely resistant to pests and diseases, although scale insects and spider mites can be problematic.

Suggested use of the Cyrtostachys Renda Palm

The cyrtostachys renda palm is a popular, though difficult to grow, ornamental plant that adds a colorful touch to any tropical garden. The thickness of the clumps also makes it a popular privacy hedge or cover for sheds or jacuzzis.

If you plant it outside, it should always be close to a water source.

Traditionally, the plant is used in building huts with thatched roofs and poles. The stem tip, or palm heart, is edible.

Due to its sensitivity to change, the lipstick palm is an excellent choice to grow indoors in a more controlled environment.

It will also work as a potted plant that is kept on the terrace during the warmer months and brought indoors to overwinter.

Do you want to grow a Cyrtostachys Renda Palm yourself?

Check the shop and easily order a few fresh cyrtostachys renda seeds to grow them yourself in a few steps. You will also receive the free growing instructions.

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