Cyrtostachys renda
 
Common Names Lipstick Palm, Red Sealing Wax Palm, Rajah Palm, Malay: Pinang Rajah
 
Zones 10B–11
 
A striking tropical palm native to Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, and southern Thailand, Cyrtostachys renda is famed for its vivid scarlet crownshaft and leaf sheaths. This clustering species is slow-growing and highly sensitive to cold, making it a prized specimen for protected tropical gardens and conservatories. Its vivid coloration and graceful form make it one of the most sought-after ornamental palms in the world2.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Clustering; slow-growing
Height: 25–52 ft (7–16 m); stem diameter 3.9–4 in (10 cm)
Trunk: Slender; green with white rings; multiple stems
Crownshaft: Glossy crimson to scarlet; tubular; 39 in (1 m) long
Leaves: Pinnate; 4–5 ft (120–150 cm) long; deep green above, gray-green below; ~50 pairs of pinnae
Inflorescence: Branched; pale green to purplish-red; emerges below crownshaft
Fruit: Ovoid; green turning bluish-black; ~0.55 in (1.4 cm) diameter
Ecology: Grows in lowland peat swamp forests; prefers coastal and wetland habitats
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Part shade to filtered sun; tolerates full sun in humid climates
Watering: High; prefers consistently moist soil
Soil: Acidic, humusy, well-drained; tolerates marginal aquatic conditions
Temperature: Extremely cold-sensitive; damage below 50°F (10°C)
Humidity: Very high; essential for healthy growth
Propagation: By seed or offsets; seeds germinate slowly (2–12 months)
Tolerance: Not drought-, salt-, or wind-tolerant
 
Landscape Use Ideal for tropical focal points, screens, or container specimens in protected gardens. Pairs well with Licuala grandis, Areca vestiaria, and Chambeyronia macrocarpa.