Wax Palm (Ceroxylon utile)

At a glance

Lifecycle: Perennial (hardy)
Exposure: Full sun
Frost limit: −6.7 °C

Cultivation

Succeeds in most fertile moist but well-drained soils in a sheltered sunny position. This species tolerates several degrees of short-lived frost in its native climate. Palms usually have deep penetrating root systems and generally establish best when planted out at a young stage. However, older plants are substantially more cold tolerant than juvenile plants. This palm grows at higher elevations than any other palm. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. This species is not in the IPOI list of accepted plant names.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a warm greenhouse at not less than 24°c. Grow on the plants in the greenhouse for at least their first two winters and plant out in the summer. Give the plants some protection from the cold for at least their first few winters outdoors.

Edible uses

Fruit. We have seen no reports for this species, but the fruit is probably edible[K].

Material uses

A wax obtained from the trunk is used for making candles.

Habitat

Cloud forests at high elevations up to 4,000 metres in the Andes.

Native range

S. America - Colombia.