Joey palm Johannesteijsmannia altifrons
Joey palm (Johannesteijsmannia altifrons) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Arecaceae family, native to Hill forest understorey of southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. It grows 3–6 m (10–20 ft) tall and 4–6 m (13–20 ft) wide, wants shade and high water, and is hardy to about 10 °C (50 °F). Space plants about 4 m (13 ft) apart.
Plan Joey palm in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Joey palm at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 3–6 m (10–20 ft) |
| Mature spread | 4–6 m (13–20 ft) |
| Spacing | 4 m (13 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Shade, at least 1 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 4.5–6.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About 10 °C (50 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 12) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 34 °C (93 °F) |
| Flowering | about 521–782 weeks after planting, for 4–9 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | None |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Hill forest understorey of southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo |
| Common in gardens of | 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand |
Is Joey 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 Joey palm
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like shade and high water.
See Joey palm in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Singapore Botanic Gardens (8 plants)
Questions about Joey palm
- How far apart should I plant Joey palm?
- About 4 m (13 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 4–6 m (13–20 ft).
- Does Joey palm need full sun?
- Shade: at least 1 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Joey palm need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Joey palm?
- It tolerates about 10 °C (50 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 12.
- When does Joey palm flower?
- About 521–782 weeks after planting, for 4–9 weeks.
- Is Joey 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 Joey palm?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Joey palm. Group it with plants that like the same sun (shade) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, IUCN
- Singapore Botanic Gardens: Rainforest, National Orchid Garden, Ginger Garden, Learning Forest, National Parks Board, Singapore
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical lowland plant: outdoors only where it never frosts (as in Singapore); elsewhere it needs a heated glasshouse.
- Trunkless: huge undivided, diamond-shaped, pleated leaves up to 6 m long rise straight from the ground; used for thatch. Near Threatened (IUCN).
- Typical garden-form values; cultivars and local conditions differ.
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
- Clustering fishtail palm Caryota mitis