Pronunciation: sir-OX-ill-on al-PIE-num
Common Name: Andean Wax Palm
Ceroxylon Alpinum is a moderate elevation species from the Andes (Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela) that seems to be a fairly good palm for California though not for the colder or hotter areas (coastal zones are the best). Look is very similar to Ceroxylon echinulatum, though with much shorter petioles. Surprisingly tolerant of humid, tropical climate (such as Hawaii)
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Appearance and Biology
- Habit: solitary with a crown of 15-20 feather leaves
- Height: 40'
- Trunk: solitary; 10"-12" diameter; whitish, waxy trunk; ornamental dark rings relatively closely spaced (for a Ceroxylon)
- Crownshaft: incomplete; 3' tall; coppery
- Spread: 20'-25'
- Leaf Description: pinnate; most relatively horizontally oriented with some below the horizontal; pendulous leaflets; leaflets all in same plane; white ventral leaf surface
- Petiole/Leaf bases: 1' long; silvery; channeled on dorsal surface; unarmed
- Reproduction: monoecious
- Inflorescence: above crownshaft; 3' long and pendulous
- Fruit: bright red to red orange when ripe; rough, 'pebbled' surface; 3/4"-1" in diameter; spherical
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 28F
- Drought Tolerance: low
- Dry Heat Tolerance: low
- Cool Tolerance: good
- Wind Tolerance: moderate
- Salt Tolerance: unknown
- Growth Rate: very slow
- Soil Preference: moist and well draining
- Light Requirement: filtered to partial sun
- Human Hazards: none
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: difficult in hot summers
- Transplants?: unknown
- Indoor?: unknown
- Availability: very rare
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