Those plants grown in a deeply shady situation will retain the juvenile leaves much longer than grown in the open. The Footstool Palm is native to Malaysia and Indonesia where it grows in large impressive colonies. In its native state the cabbage is collected and eaten and the dark violet fruit is eaten by children. It is an ideal palm for tropical climates and needs protection from direct sun when small. Rich soils promote strong, vigorous growth. In districts with a cold winter the plants struggle and are very slow growing.

A very striking variety is native to the Philippine island of Luzon. This is known as var. luzonensis and has a slender trunk with prominent white rings. If anything, this palm is more tropical than the typical variety. Fruiting plants are very decorative, bearing masses of brick-red fruit. Both variants can be propagated from seed which germinates within 2 months but seedling growth is very slow.