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Plant care

Lipstick Palm (Sealing Wax Palm) care

Cyrtostachys renda

Also called Sealing Wax Palm, Rajah Palm, Red Sealing Wax Palm.

RHS H1aUSDA 11-12Pet-safeIndoor 3-10 m tall outdoors

Watering rhythm

3-4days

Keep soil consistently moist — check every 3-4 days; water whenever the surface begins to dry

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Light

Bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window)

Soil

Peaty, moisture-retentive, rich tropical mix

Humidity

70-90%

Temp

22-35°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

3-10 m tall outdoors

Care at a glance

Light

Bright but filtered. Lipstick Palm burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Prefers bright, filtered or dappled light. In its native swamp habitat it receives strong but filtered tropical light. Outdoors in full sun, ensure consistent moisture. Indoors, maximum filtered light near a large window is essential; insufficient light causes the iconic red colour to fade. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering lipstick palm: keep soil consistently moist — check every 3-4 days; water whenever the surface begins to dry. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Native to tropical peat swamps; this species requires consistently moist, never-drying soil conditions. Unlike most palms, it tolerates and even prefers near-waterlogged conditions. Use mineral-free or rainwater; never allow the root ball to dry out completely.

Soil and pot

Lipstick Palm grows best in peaty, moisture-retentive, rich tropical mix. Use a rich compost high in organic matter with added peat or coir; unlike most palms this species is adapted to waterlogged, acidic peat soils. A pH of 4.5-5.5 (acidic) is preferred. Drainage holes are still important to prevent stagnant anaerobic conditions. 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

Lipstick Palm sits happiest at around 70-90% humidity and 22-35°C (72-95°F). Demands very high humidity — the most critical care factor for this species indoors. Without high humidity, fronds brown rapidly and new growth is stunted. A dedicated humidifier is strongly recommended; terracotta pots and pebble trays are insufficient alone. 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 lipstick palm sparingly. Feed every 3-4 weeks during the growing season with a dilute balanced palm fertiliser. Do not over-feed; lipstick palms in their natural swampy habitat grow in nutrient-poor conditions. A light touch with a micronutrient-rich formulation is best. 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 lipstick palm in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Colour fading (crownshaft turns green) — The red colour requires very bright light; move to a sunnier position.
  • Brown fronds in low humidity — The most common indoor failure; lipstick palms need 70%+ humidity — a humidifier is essential.
  • Cold shock — Even brief drops below 18°C cause irreversible frond damage; never place near cold windows or air conditioning vents.
  • Root rot in cold/stagnant water — Although swamp-adapted, cold waterlogging causes rot; keep soil warm and provide some airflow.
  • Spider mites — Despite high humidity preferences, mites can colonise in dry heated rooms; treat promptly with insecticidal soap.

Companion plants

Lipstick Palm pairs well with Heliconia stricta, Costus barbatus, and Zingiber spectabile. 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

Propagate by fresh seed sown in warm, moist, acidic compost at 28-32°C; germination takes 2-4 months. Division of multi-stemmed clumps is possible in spring, separating stems with intact roots carefully. 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

Lipstick Palm is pet-safe. Cyrtostachys renda is a true palm (Arecaceae) and the genus is not listed as toxic by the ASPCA. True palms as a family are generally considered non-toxic to cats, dogs, and other pets. 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.

Lipstick Palm care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Cyrtostachys renda?

Cyrtostachys renda is most commonly called Lipstick Palm, but it is also known as Sealing Wax Palm, Rajah Palm, Red Sealing Wax Palm. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Lipstick Palm apply identically to anything sold as Sealing Wax Palm.

How much light does lipstick palm need?

Lipstick Palm grows best in bright indirect light (just back from a sunny window). Prefers bright, filtered or dappled light. In its native swamp habitat it receives strong but filtered tropical light. Outdoors in full sun, ensure consistent moisture. Indoors, maximum filtered light near a large window is essential; insufficient light causes the iconic red colour to fade.

How often should I water lipstick palm?

Water lipstick palm keep soil consistently moist — check every 3-4 days; water whenever the surface begins to dry. Native to tropical peat swamps; this species requires consistently moist, never-drying soil conditions. Unlike most palms, it tolerates and even prefers near-waterlogged conditions. Use mineral-free or rainwater; never allow the root ball to dry out completely. 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 lipstick palm toxic to cats and dogs?

Lipstick Palm is pet-safe. Cyrtostachys renda is a true palm (Arecaceae) and the genus is not listed as toxic by the ASPCA. True palms as a family are generally considered non-toxic to cats, dogs, and other pets.

What USDA hardiness zone does lipstick palm grow in?

Lipstick Palm is rated for USDA zone 11-12 (indoor-only in most of the world) and RHS hardiness H1a. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Lipstick Palm deep-dive guides

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

Featured in these plant shortlists

Lipstick 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

Lipstick Palm is also known as Sealing Wax Palm, Rajah Palm, and Red Sealing Wax Palm.