Sealing wax palm (pinang raja) Cyrtostachys renda
Sealing wax palm (pinang raja) (Cyrtostachys renda) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Arecaceae family, native to Peat swamp forest of southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo. It grows 6–12 m (20–39 ft) tall and 3–5 m (10–16 ft) wide, wants full sun and high water, and is hardy to about 13 °C (55 °F). Space plants about 3 m (10 ft) apart.
Plan Sealing wax palm (pinang raja) in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Sealing wax palm (pinang raja) at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 6–12 m (20–39 ft) |
| Mature spread | 3–5 m (10–16 ft) |
| Spacing | 3 m (10 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance high |
| Soil pH | 4–6.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About 13 °C (55 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 12) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | about 261–417 weeks after planting, for 9–17 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Peat swamp forest of southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo |
| Common in gardens of | 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇹🇭 Thailand |
Is Sealing wax palm (pinang raja) 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 Sealing wax palm (pinang raja)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and high water.
See Sealing wax palm (pinang raja) in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Singapore Botanic Gardens (1 plants)
- Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden (1 plants)
Questions about Sealing wax palm (pinang raja)
- How far apart should I plant Sealing wax palm (pinang raja)?
- About 3 m (10 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–5 m (10–16 ft).
- Does Sealing wax palm (pinang raja) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Sealing wax palm (pinang raja) need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance high.
- How cold-hardy is Sealing wax palm (pinang raja)?
- It tolerates about 13 °C (55 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 12.
- When does Sealing wax palm (pinang raja) flower?
- About 261–417 weeks after planting, for 9–17 weeks.
- Is Sealing wax palm (pinang raja) 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 Sealing wax palm (pinang raja)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Sealing wax palm (pinang raja). 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).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Flora & Fauna Web, National Parks Board, Singapore
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical lowland plant: outdoors only where it never frosts (as in Singapore); elsewhere it needs a heated glasshouse.
- Freshwater or peat swamp plant: needs permanently wet, acidic, waterlogged ground.
- A clump of slender stems with brilliant sealing-wax-red crownshafts and leaf stalks; one of the most cold-tender palms (damaged below about 13 °C).
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
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- Date palm Phoenix dactylifera
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- 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