Linospadix monostachyus
walking stick palm
Eastern Australia (south-east Queensland to New South Wales)
Overview
Linospadix monostachyus is a slender, single-stemmed rainforest palm growing 6.5-13 feet (2-4 m) tall, with a trunk only 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) thick ringed by old leaf scars. The crown holds a small number of pinnate fronds 12-32 inches (30-80 cm) long, each divided into a few broad, irregular leaflets that are dark green and glossy. Slender flowering spikes 8-20 inches (20-50 cm) long hang from among the fronds and bear small cream flowers. These are followed by strings of rounded fruit 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) wide that ripen from green through yellow to red over many months. The palm grows slowly in the deep shade of subtropical and warm-temperate rainforest in eastern Australia, on moist, well-drained slopes and gullies. The narrow stem is strong and was once cut for walking sticks, which gives the common name. It is sensitive to frost, drought, and direct sun, and the single growing point means damage to the crown can kill the plant.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, from south-eastern Queensland to south-eastern New South Wales. It grows on the floor of subtropical and warm-temperate rainforest, on moist, shaded slopes and in gullies.Suggested Uses
Grown as a slow-growing accent palm in shaded subtropical gardens, ferneries, and rainforest plantings. Its small size suits courtyards, narrow beds, and containers in frost-free climates. It grows indoors as a foliage plant in bright, indirect light.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6'6" - 13'
Width/Spread2' - 4'
Reaches mature size in approximately 15 years
Bloom Information
Slender flowering spikes appear among the fronds mainly in spring and summer. The small cream flowers are followed by strings of rounded fruit 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) wide. The fruit ripens slowly from green through yellow to red over several months, so colored and green fruit often hang together.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 3 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
Grow Linospadix monostachyus in deep to part shade in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5-7.0. It needs steady moisture and shelter from direct sun, wind, and frost, matching its rainforest-floor origins. Growth is slow, and the palm stays small for many years, which suits it to shaded courtyards and containers. The single growing point means a damaged crown does not regenerate, so the palm is kept clear of trampling and mechanical injury. It grows indoors in bright, indirect light with steady humidity.Pruning
Remove only old, fully browned fronds by cutting close to the stem. No other pruning is needed, as the palm grows from a single crown that must stay intact. Spent fruiting spikes can be cut away once the fruit has dropped.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons