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Plant care

Stilt Palm (Bombona Palm) care

Iriartea deltoidea

Also called Bombona Palm, Walking Palm, Huacrapona.

RHS H1AUSDA 11-12Pet-safeIndoor Up to 30 m outdoors in the wild

Watering rhythm

3-5days

Keep consistently moist; water every 3-5 days in the growing season

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Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Rich, organic, well-draining loam

Humidity

75-95%

Temp

22-35°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

Up to 30 m outdoors in the wild

Care at a glance

Light

In the wild stilt palm grows on the bright edge of a forest canopy, not in the canopy and not in the open. Indoors, that translates to within a metre of an unobstructed window, sheer curtain optional. In the wild grows under and within the rainforest canopy; prefers bright indirect to dappled light. In cultivation, can adapt to full sun in warm humid climates but benefits from some protection during establishment. The fastest test: a hand held at the leaf casts a soft-edged shadow at noon — sharp shadow means too much sun, no shadow means too little light.

Watering

Aim for keep consistently moist; water every 3-5 days in the growing season for stilt palm, but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Native to high-rainfall Amazonian environments; requires regular, generous watering. Never allow the substrate to dry fully. In containers, ensure drainage holes are clear to prevent stagnation around the adventitious roots.

Soil and pot

Stilt Palm grows best in rich, organic, well-draining loam. A fertile, humus-rich mix replicates the deep tropical forest soils this palm favours. Slightly acidic (pH 5.5–6.5). Incorporate composted bark or coir to improve both drainage and moisture retention. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Stilt Palm sits happiest at around 75-95% humidity and 22-35°C (72-95°F). A rainforest specialist demanding very high ambient humidity. Cultivation outside a warm, humid greenhouse in cool climates is not practical. Outdoor growing is feasible only in genuinely tropical zones. If you keep the room above 22 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed stilt palm sparingly. Apply a balanced slow-release palm fertiliser in spring and midsummer. This large, vigorous palm in the ground benefits from supplemental organic mulching with leaf mould or composted bark around the stilt root zone. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on stilt palm in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Cold damage — Intolerant of temperatures below 18°C; any chilling causes severe frond damage and potential loss of the growing point.
  • Low humidity stress — Frond tips brown and die back rapidly in dry air; a high-humidity greenhouse environment is essential outside tropical climates.
  • Root disturbance sensitivity — The stilt root system is sensitive to major disturbance; avoid repotting unnecessarily and plant out only when the specimen can remain permanently.
  • Scale insects — Check the stilt root bases and frond midribs; treat with horticultural oil spray.
  • Spider mites — Present a risk in warm, dry indoor conditions; increase humidity and treat promptly with neem oil.

Companion plants

Stilt Palm pairs well with Calathea, Anthurium, Heliconia, and Tree Ferns (Cyathea). These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Seed only; requires extremely fresh seed sown immediately after harvest at 28–32°C with constant high humidity. Germination can take 2–5 months. Cultivation is specialist and best suited to botanical gardens. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Stilt Palm is pet-safe. Iriartea deltoidea is not individually listed by the ASPCA. As a member of the Arecaceae (true palms), it is not considered toxic to dogs or cats. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Stilt Palm care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Iriartea deltoidea?

Iriartea deltoidea is most commonly called Stilt Palm, but it is also known as Bombona Palm, Walking Palm, Huacrapona. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Stilt Palm apply identically to anything sold as Bombona Palm.

How much light does stilt palm need?

Stilt Palm grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). In the wild grows under and within the rainforest canopy; prefers bright indirect to dappled light. In cultivation, can adapt to full sun in warm humid climates but benefits from some protection during establishment.

How often should I water stilt palm?

Water stilt palm keep consistently moist; water every 3-5 days in the growing season. Native to high-rainfall Amazonian environments; requires regular, generous watering. Never allow the substrate to dry fully. In containers, ensure drainage holes are clear to prevent stagnation around the adventitious roots. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is stilt palm toxic to cats and dogs?

Stilt Palm is pet-safe. Iriartea deltoidea is not individually listed by the ASPCA. As a member of the Arecaceae (true palms), it is not considered toxic to dogs or cats.

What USDA hardiness zone does stilt palm grow in?

Stilt Palm is rated for USDA zone 11-12 and RHS hardiness H1A. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Stilt Palm deep-dive guides

Every aspect of stilt palm care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Stilt Palm qualifies for 7 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Stilt Palm is also known as Bombona Palm, Walking Palm, and Huacrapona.