Johannesteijsmannia perakensis

Johannesteijsmannia perakensis is a solitary understorey palm from a few hill ranges of Perak and Kedah in north-western Peninsular Malaysia. Like its relatives it bears huge, stiff, undivided leaves pleated like a folded fan, up to about 4 m long.

Unlike them, it slowly raises its crown on a slender, upright trunk up to 4 m tall, hence its English name, Joey on a Stick. Seed has long been scarce, and it is grown mainly by palm collectors.

At a glance

• Native range: north-western Peninsular Malaysia
• Mature size: trunk to 4 m; about 5–7 m including the crown
• Light: dappled shade or bright filtered light; gentle morning sun is accepted
• Water: humid air and steady moisture
• Cold hardiness: safest above about 4 °C; young plants have survived brief nights of 1–2 °C
• Indoors / outdoors: shaded, humid gardens in the tropics and warmest subtropics; container plants should come indoors in cold spells

Care

Give it a sheltered, humid spot out of strong sun and wind. Grown in a container, it should be moved indoors whenever cold weather threatens.

Why Palmpedia: Every plant is grown in our greenhouse in Almeirim, Portugal, and leaves us in a 15 L to 35 L pot.