Carnauba Wax Palm

Other interesting palm trees:  Mediterranean palm - Sago palm tree - Date palm tree

The Carnauba Wax palm is highly valued for heat resistant wax found on its leaves. The palm is grown commercially in Brazil. The Carnauba wax is the hardest of all the natural waxes.  The yellowish wax is used in floor, automobile waxes, shoe, furniture, floor polishes, cosmetics and sweets.

The Carnauba wax palm is grown only in Brazil and not well-known in the rest of the world. Because of its wax coating the Carnauba palm can tolerate different extreme conditions and can be grown in many locations.

Additional Information:

Scientific name: Copernicia Prunifera

Family: Arecaceae

Genus: Copernicia

Origin: It is native to northeastern Brazil.

Other names: Carnaubeira palm, Brazilian wax palm, Wax palm

Growth rate: Slow

Trunk: The Copernicia Prunifera has a gray, covered with unique spiral pattern of persistent leaf bases trunk. It grows to a maximum height of 30 feet.

Leaves: The leaves are costapalmate, divided into 40 to 60 segments, covered with a thin layer of wax, blue green in color. They have very long petioles that are covered with long spines.

Indoor/Outdoor Use: Outside

Maintenance: Low

Light exposure: It love full sun.

Water requirements: Regular watering

Drought toleration: Low to moderate

Cold toleration: It has moderate cold tolerance. The palm is hardy to 26-28 F.

Flowers: The flowers are bisexual, male and female flowers are on the same plant.

Fruits: The fruits are 1 inch long, brownish.

Propagation: It is propagated by seeds. The seeds germinate within several months, sometimes in a year.

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