Lipstick Palm

Lipstick Palm (Cyrtostachys renda) carries the most famous trunk colour in the palm world: crownshafts and leaf sheaths in glossy sealing wax scarlet, held on a clumping palm that builds to about 6m tall and 3m wide. Nothing else in a tropical garden draws the eye the same way. It is strictly a plant for the tropics, and in a warm, wet position it becomes the signature of the whole garden.

Why you'll love it

• Scarlet stems, all year. The red is permanent structure, not a seasonal flower, so the display never takes a month off.
• A natural clump. Multiple stems rise from the base at staggered heights, giving a full, layered planting from a single specimen.
• Thrives where drainage fails. It tolerates wet feet, so the boggy low corner that kills other palms is prime position for this one.
• Made for heat and humidity. Steamy wet season weather that flattens temperate plants is exactly what it wants.

Where it works best

Feature planting. Give it a position with a plain backdrop, a fence, a wall or deep green foliage, so the red stems register from across the garden.

Poolside. The warm, humid microclimate around a tropical pool suits it, and the coloured stems at eye level do more for the setting than any pot or umbrella.

Pots and containers. In the tropics it grows well in a large container that is never allowed to dry out, which also lets you move the colour to wherever guests sit.

Growing Lipstick Palm in Australia

Position and climate. This palm is for tropical gardens only: Darwin, Cairns, Townsville and similar coastal districts. It needs constant warmth and humidity, and it declines quickly once temperatures sit below about 15 degrees. Frost is fatal. South of the tropics it is not a garden plant, and we would rather say so plainly than sell you a disappointment. Bright light with a little afternoon relief grows the best colour in young plants.

Soil. Rich, moist and forgiving. It is one of the few palms that accepts boggy ground, and it responds to generous compost and a deep mulch that holds moisture through the dry season.

Water and feed. Never let it dry out. Water deeply and often in the dry season, and feed with a controlled release palm fertiliser through the warm months to keep the fronds deep green.

Pruning. None to speak of. Remove spent fronds as they brown, and thin excess basal stems only if you want a more open clump.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Lipstick Palm as advanced 60L and 90L specimens: established clumps with real height and the red colour already showing, because small stock takes years to perform. These are investment plants for a considered position. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost.

Orders are delivered Australia wide, with a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Plant at the start of the wet season if you can, keep the water up, and expect new fronds once the roots take hold. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• A guide to palm varieties in Australia
• Browse the full palm range
• More plants for poolside gardens
• Designing a tropical garden that stays lush

Common questions

Can I grow it in Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne?

Honestly, no. It fails once temperatures sit below about 15 degrees, and winters south of the tropics do exactly that. Treat it as a true tropical or admire it on holiday.

Why is it only sold in large sizes?

Because the colour and clumping habit take years to develop, we supply established 60L and 90L plants that perform from day one rather than tube stock that needs half a decade of nursing.

Does it flower?

It produces small flower sprays, but they are insignificant. The scarlet crownshafts are the entire show, and they run all year.

Will it cope in a pot?

Yes, in the tropics. Use a wide container with rich mix, water daily in hot weather and never let it dry out. A dry lipstick palm goes backwards fast.