On our latest trip to Phuket we admired this plant / tree? and would like to use it at our home. We have shown the picture to several local nurseries and had the usual multiple garbled responses..............................they will never just admit that they don't know what it is! Do any of the experts here know what this is and have any information on it. Would like to know if it is invasive or not?

Tas

I believe this is a palm that scientifically is called Cyrtostachys renda. The Thai call it normally กอหมากแดง, sometimes (maybe only locally) กะแดง. I see from a book that there are some English names: Sealing wax palm, Lipstick palm, and Raja palm

Erwin

Edited June 2, 201115 yr by chinnotes

Yup, lipstick palm...easily available in Pattaya. When I purchased them, I showed the guy a photo from a book on tropical plants/gardens. I fhave found that a pic speaks a thousand (Thai) words.

I now have them in my garden...it does not appear to be invasive since it does not seem to send out suckers like some bamboos. Instead it sends up small shoots and forms a clump like the pic you attached.

Many thanks for the replies, my wife is now on the case trying to either purchase or order a few of these.

Tas

Well, its not a bamboo... and palms aren't generally too invasive as they aren't as fast growing as bamboo.

Pahm daeng I believe is the common word, I've seen them quite a bit, really surprised your gardening people don't recognize the photo as its extremely common