The foliage is deep green with pinnate leaves that can grow up to 5 feet long. This variety of palm grows 25 to 35 feet tall in the wild. In the summer, these palms produce a shaft with greenish-white flowers that give way to small, black fruits. These plants have a slow to medium growth rate and can be easily grown in pots. These trees have a clumping nature that creates trunks at varying heights. This staggered effect makes for a perfect, natural privacy fence. Alternatively, suckers can be taken off and propagated. These trees are resistant to many pests and diseases but might have issues with spider mites or scale if grown indoors. They don’t tolerate drought, winds, salt, or cold temperatures.
Light
Partial sun is best for these vibrant palms when they are young and more tender. Once they are mature, they can be grown in partial to full sun.
Soil
The lipstick palm is native to swampy, wet areas such as near riverbanks or tidal areas. In fact, it has been known to survive in standing water. For the healthiest palm, provide it with well-draining, moist, loamy soil.
Water
This moisture-loving tree requires consistent watering. Keep the soil moist, watering before the soil has a chance to dry out. The frequency of waterings will vary by location, but you might need to water a lipstick palm daily to keep it quenched.
Temperature and Humidity
The lipstick palm requires warm temperatures and cannot tolerate cold weather. The ideal temperature for this tree is about 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. It does best in an area with steady temperatures. Just as this plant doesn’t do well in dry soil, it also doesn’t do well in dry air. The lipstick palm requires high humidity to stay healthy.
Fertilizer
Fertilizing your palm tree will help ensure that nutrients are not washed away with constant watering. A well-balanced, slow-release palm fertilizer should be applied twice a year during the growing season. Beware of fertilizers with high amounts of salt, as the lipstick palm does not tolerate salt well.
Pruning Lipstick Palms
The lipstick palm does not require much pruning. Unlike other landscaping plants, pruning does not encourage more growth on the lipstick palm. Therefore, only prune away damaged or diseased fronds to maintain a clean, healthy appearance.
Propagating Lipstick Palms
Like other palms, the lipstick palm produces suckers or young offshoots, which are perfect for propagation. Here’s how. The lipstick palm can be grown from seed, but the process is notoriously long and challenging. Seeds can take two to three months to germinate, and new plants might take years to grow just a few inches. Because it is quicker and easier than growing from seed, propagating these plants via suckers is the preferred method.
Potting and Repotting Lipstick Palms
The lipstick palm can be grown in containers indoors and outdoors. Because the container does not have access to a water source, you must water potted palms often. To grow the lipstick palm in a container, choose a container wide and deep enough to accommodate its roots and allow for growth. After several years, the palm might become root-bound.. When this happens, it is time to repot into a larger container with fresh potting soil. To repot a lipstick palm, start by gently working the palm out of its current pot. It might help to tip the pot on its side. Once you’ve slid the plant and roots out of the pot, place the palm in a pot large enough to accommodate new growth and fill it in with well-draining potting soil. Pat down the new soil and water thoroughly. Because they have slow to medium growth rates, your lipstick palm does not need to be repotted very often.
Overwintering Lipstick Palms
In the northern tip of USDA Zone 11, the lipstick palm benefits greatly from a heavy layer of mulch to protect its root system from cooler temperatures. In zones colder than Zone 11, this palm must be moved indoors in order to overwinter successfully. In most areas of the continental U. S., this palm should be grown indoors or in a greenhouse. Keep in mind that the lipstick palm doesn’t tolerate dry air well, so you might need to implement a strategy to raise humidity levels to maintain it as a healthy houseplant.
