Ceroxylon quindiuense
(H. Karst.) H. Wendl.
(c) John Sterling, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by John Sterling
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(c) Jorge L. Peña, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Nut
The fruit is likely edible, though no specific reports for this species have been recorded.
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant.
Colombia, Peru, South America,
How to Identify
A slow-growing evergreen tree reaching 20m tall and 4m wide. Hardy to UK zone 9. The plant is dioecious, requiring both male and female specimens for seed production. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Grows in semi-shade to full sun and prefers moist conditions across mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH ranges.
How to Grow
A plant of the highland tropics. This species tolerates several degrees of short-lived frost in its native climate, it can be grown outdoors in essentially frost-free temperate climates. A difficult plant to cultivated outside its native range, it succeeds in most fertile moist but well-drained soils in a sheltered sunny position. Requires a humus-rich soil with bright filtered light and cool high humidity. A very slow-growing plant, it takes about 15 years from when the seed germinates until the tree starts to form a trunk. 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. In areas at the limit of their cold tolerance, therefore, it is prudent to grow the plants in containers for some years, giving them winter protection, and only planting them into their permanent positions when sheer size dictates. Palms can also often be transplanted even when very large. Although the thick fleshy roots are easily damaged and/or desiccated, new roots are generally freely produced. It is important to stake the plant very firmly to prevent rock, and also to give it plenty of water until re-established - removing many of the leaves can also help. This species is the national tree of Colombia. A dioecious species, both male and female forms must be grown if seed is required.
Propagation: Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a warm greenhouse at no less than 24°C. Stored seed is very slow to germinate. Pre-soaking seed for 24 hours in warm water before sowing may shorten germination time. As plants form a long taproot before producing a shoot, seed is best sown in groups of two or three per deep pot, thinning to the strongest seedling if necessary. Germination of fresh seed usually takes 3–4 months at 25°C. Grow plants in the greenhouse for at least their first two winters before planting out in summer. Provide protection from cold for at least the first few winters outdoors.
Medicinal Uses
None known
Other Uses
A wax obtained from the trunk is used for making candles.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Ceroxylon quindiuense, often called Quindío wax palm, is a palm native to the humid montane forests of the Andes in Colombia and Peru.
Names & Synonyms
Palma de cera
References (3)
- Brevard County Edible Acres
- Kew Plants of the World Online
- Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.
