Ceroxylon parvifrons
Golden Wax Palm

Growing to one of the highest elevations for any palm, to 3200m/10500ft, it is the hardiest species in the genus and a most distinctive and beautiful one with its erect, slightly arching leaves with a very regular outline, looking as though they had been trimmed with scissors, and stiff, upward pointing leaflets. The undersides of the leaves usually carry a thick golden tomentum. It is definitely our favourite species within the genus simply because of its stunning appearance. The name 'Ceroxylon utile' has frequently been applied to plants of this species growing at high altitudes in Colombia. C. utile has been reported to grow to altitudes of just over 4000m/13000ft in the Andes near Volcan Chiles, located on the border between Colombia and Ecuador. Despite a thorough search of the area, we found no evidence of any palm growing at this altitude among the millions (literally), of the strange Espeletia at home here. On descending, the first palms we encountered were C. parvifrons at about 3000m/9800ft. We believe C. utile to be identical with C. parvifrons and the altitude of 4000m/13000ft an error. Throughout the Andes, the young leaves - and sometimes, to reach them, entire trees - are cut for the decoration of churches on Palm Sunday, making this palm increasingly rare in its native habitat. C. parvifrons is practically unknown in cultivation outside Ecuador and Colombia. We have collected a particularly large and robust form of this extremely variable palm. Act now, it may be your last chance for many years to come.