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Linospadix spp.
walking stick palm
Overview
Linospadix is a genus of about seven to nine small, slender palms in the family Arecaceae, native to the rainforests of eastern Australia and New Guinea. Known as walking-stick palms, they form single or clustered, very thin canes 3-15 feet (1-4.5 m) tall and under 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick, topped by a small crown of pinnate or simple, ribbed leaves 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) long. Slender, pendulous flowering spikes hang among the leaves and bear small cream flowers, followed by strings of red, egg-shaped fruits 0.3-0.6 inch (8-15 mm) long. The genus grows in the deep shade of moist, humid rainforest understory in well-drained, organic soils, and is intolerant of full sun, drought, and frost. Growth is slow, and most species need warmth and steady moisture. The thin, straight canes were once cut and used as walking sticks. Cold below freezing damages or kills most species, restricting them to tropical, subtropical, and mild frost-free gardens or to container and greenhouse culture.
Native Range
Linospadix species are native to eastern Australia, from Queensland to New South Wales, and to New Guinea, where they grow as understory palms in the deep shade of moist tropical and subtropical rainforest.Suggested Uses
Grown as slow-growing understory and specimen palms in shaded tropical and subtropical gardens, and as container palms for warm, shaded patios, atriums, and interiors. The slender form suits narrow shaded spaces and underplanting beneath taller trees in frost-free climates.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 15'
Width/Spread2' - 6'
Bloom Information
Small cream flowers are borne along slender, pendulous spikes among the leaves, mainly in the warmer months, and plants can flower over an extended period in suitable climates. Flowering is followed by hanging strings of red fruits that ripen over several months.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 1-4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Linospadix grows in deep to partial shade in moist, humid, free-draining soil rich in organic matter. The palms need shelter from direct sun, which scorches the leaves, and from drying wind, along with steady moisture and warmth. Growth is slow, and most species are frost-tender, suited to tropical, subtropical, and frost-free gardens or to containers in warm shade indoors. Temperatures below freezing damage or kill them. A loose, organic, evenly moist medium supports the slow, steady growth that keeps these small palms in scale with shaded beds.Pruning
Only fully dead or badly damaged leaves are removed, cut close to the stem without cutting into living tissue. Healthy fronds are retained, as the palm draws nutrients from them. Spent fruiting spikes can be trimmed once the fruit has dropped.Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons