Ecuadorian Wax Palm

Ecuadorian wax palm (Ceroxylon ventricosum) is a solitary, very tall palm with a pale trunk coated in wax and a crown of long feather-like fronds. It occurs in the wet Andes of Colombia and Ecuador, where it rises above montane woodland and grassland. A palm specialist reports a trunk around 100 feet tall and describes the species as very tall, so allow extensive vertical clearance. ## Form and habitat [Kew’s Plants of the World Online](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:53445-2/general-information) accepts Ceroxylon ventricosum and describes its native range from southwestern Colombia to Ecuador in wet tropical forest. The [Colombian plant catalogue](https://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co/en/resultados/especie/Ceroxylon%20ventricosum/index.html) records it as a solitary palm native to the Andes. Its distinctive waxy trunk and large pinnate leaves create a strong vertical focal point. ## Siting [Trebrown’s species profile](https://trebrown.com/plant_info.php?species=Ceroxylon+ventricosum) characterizes the palm as slow-growing and water-loving, and recommends a sunny position. It notes tolerance of brief light frost but warns that prolonged cold can require additional protection. The species is best suited to spacious sites with suitable moisture and mild, humid growing conditions. ## Maintenance Keep the root zone from drying for extended periods and plan for the mature palm’s height before planting near buildings or overhead lines. Avoid prolonged cold exposure; the short-frost tolerance described by the source does not imply tolerance of sustained winter cold.