This solitary palm has spiny brown stilt-roots and a smooth ringed grey trunk that is up to 150mm (6in) in diameter. It has a bluish-green crownshaft and spreading dark green plumose fronds and the flowers appear in cluster followed by yellow fruit.  

Hardiness zones 11 to 12 

Socratea exorrhiza is naturally found in South America from Peru to western Brazil and north-west Bolivia growing on the low mountain slopes in rainforest from an altitude or 300m (1000ft) to 750m (2500ft). 

It prefers an organic rich moist soil in a shaded position when young and full sun at maturity and is drought and frost tender. 

This Stilt Palm is grown for its attractive spiky stilts and its dark green rounded crown. It is planted in rainforest settings as an emergent along water courses or as a specimen in botanical collections as a specimen creating an excellent jungle effect. It is suitable for coastal and mountainous regions establishing in 3 to 5 years and is long lived. ID 2969

Note:
This plant is not commonly cultivated outside its native environment and may be difficult to obtained requiring a specialist nursery.

Socratea (sok-RAH-tee-ah) exorrhiza (EKS-or-EE-zah)

Arecaceae (ar-ek-AY-see-ee)	
(Palmae)
Palm Family