Linospadix spp.

walking stick palm

Arecaceae Eastern Australia and New Guinea

SunFull Shade – Part Shade

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Linospadix spp. 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 spp. 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

Identify Linospadix spp. by very slender, cane-like trunks under 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick, topped with a small crown of ribbed, pinnate or simple leaves. Long, thread-like flowering and fruiting spikes hang down among the leaves, carrying strings of small red, egg-shaped fruits. The thin, straight stems and rainforest understory habitat help separate it from other small palms.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 15'

Width/Spread2' - 6'

Colors

Flower Colors

cream

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer

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

Green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Shade SunPartial Shade

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam peat

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

10-20 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Linospadix spp. 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.