Quindío wax palm Ceroxylon quindiuense
Quindío wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Arecaceae family, native to Andes of Colombia and Peru (2,000–3,100 m). It grows 25–50 m (82–164 ft) tall and 5–8 m (16–26 ft) wide, wants full sun and high water, and is hardy to about -2 °C (28 °F). Space plants about 6 m (20 ft) apart.
Plan Quindío wax palm in your garden →
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Quindío wax palm at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 25–50 m (82–164 ft) |
| Mature spread | 5–8 m (16–26 ft) |
| Spacing | 6 m (20 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5–6.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -2 °C (28 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 25 °C (77 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Andes of Colombia and Peru (2,000–3,100 m) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇨🇴 Colombia, 🇵🇪 Peru |
Is Quindío wax palm toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Quindío wax palm
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and high water.
Questions about Quindío wax palm
- How far apart should I plant Quindío wax palm?
- About 6 m (20 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 5–8 m (16–26 ft).
- Does Quindío wax palm need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Quindío wax palm need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Quindío wax palm?
- It tolerates about -2 °C (28 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- Is Quindío wax palm poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Quindío wax palm?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Quindío wax palm. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, IUCN
Notes and assumptions
- Colombia’s national tree and the world’s tallest palm, with a white waxy trunk (Cocora Valley). Very slow to establish; Endangered in the wild.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Coconut palm Cocos nucifera
- Date palm Phoenix dactylifera
- Açaí palm Euterpe oleracea
- Mexican fan palm Washingtonia robusta
- African oil palm Elaeis guineensis
- Areca palm (golden cane palm) Dypsis lutescens
- Chilean wine palm Jubaea chilensis
- Joey palm Johannesteijsmannia altifrons