Lipstick Palm

Light Needs

Part Sun to Full Sun

(5+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

8-15 Feet

Mature Spread

5-10 Feet

Growing Zones

10 to 11

Lipstick Palm turns heads the moment you see it. Cyrtostachys renda forms a clustering palm with deep green, feather-like fronds above scarlet red crown shafts that become more pronounced as the plant matures. Rare, collectible, and sculptural, this palm is a statement piece indoors or out in warm climates. Its upright clumps bring color and height to patios, poolside plantings, and bright indoor rooms without relying on flowers for interest. Give it steady warmth and humidity, because that is when the red color and foliage look their best.

This palm is native to the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, and Sumatra, where it grows in humid lowland forests, riverbanks, and peat swamp settings. It is slow to moderate growing, forming multiple slender stems that can create a natural tropical screen in frost-free climates. Small greenish-white flowers may appear on mature plants, followed by dark fruit, though the red stems remain the reason most people grow it. Use Lipstick Palm as a focal point near water features, in protected tropical borders, or as a collector patio plant that comes indoors before cool nights arrive.

Lipstick Palm Care

Grow Lipstick Palm in bright indirect light indoors, or outdoors in partial sun to dappled light, with mature plants tolerating more sun in humid tropical climates. Plant it in rich, loamy, moisture-retentive soil that still drains freely, with an acidic to neutral pH around 6.0 to 7.0. Avoid salty sites and dry, windy exposure, since both can damage the tender fronds.

Keep the soil consistently moist, watering before the root zone dries out fully, but do not let a container sit in stale water. High humidity helps prevent brown leaf tips, so indoor plants benefit from a pebble tray, humidifier, or regular morning misting. Feed during spring and summer with a slow-release palm fertilizer that includes micronutrients, then reduce feeding during cooler, slower-growth months.

Prune only brown, damaged, or diseased fronds, cutting them cleanly without nicking the red crownshaft. Removing green fronds will not make the palm grow faster and can weaken a small plant. In climates below its outdoor range, grow it in a movable container and bring it inside before nights drop near 45°F.

Lipstick Palm Spacing

Space Lipstick Palm 6 to 10 feet apart in frost-free landscapes, depending on whether you want separate specimens or a fuller clustered screen. For container growing, use a heavy 18- to 24-inch pot with drainage for young plants, then move up as the root system fills the container. Pair it with elephant ears, hibiscus, mandevilla, or bright coleus in warm, humid plantings where steady moisture and bright filtered light suit the group.

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