CERATOZAMIA "EL MIRADOR"
As
the name suggests (translation “the looker”), this is a very attractive
Ceratozamia. It comes from
Veracruz, Mexico. This is a
medium sized species which can get up to a few meters eventually, though
it would be quite uncommon to see anything with that kind of size on it.
Like many cycads, this species is rare in cultivation.
It complements most tropical looking landscapes, though it can
fit into a more Mediterranean landscape style as well.
Generally, this is a shade loving species though I can tolerate a
couple hours of sun coastally.
This species is hardy into the low 20’s F. It has
horizontal leaves that are six feet long or more, so it needs some room
in the garden. Figure trunk heights at several feet mature.
Note the presence of revolute margins on the undersides of the leaflets.
Leaf color is green.
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Coning sized nursery specimen
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CERATOZAMIA HILDAE
This is a dwarf to
semi-dwarf species that is rarely over five to six feet tall maximum.
Its hallmark is the grouping of the leaflets and dwarf size. You can see this
leaflet grouping best on the second picture. The number of
leaflets in each group is variable.
The leaflets are short and come to a soft tip. Leaf length is usually three to four feet.
Caudex size is up to eight inches. They will cluster forming a
group of plants. This is a filtered light
species and cold hardy to the low 20's F. It makes a great potted
or patio plant as well.
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A nice nursery plant to start in garden
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CERATOZAMIA
KUESTERIANA
This species is native
to the area of Tamaulipas, Mexico. It is a small to medium mature
sized plant. Leaf length is usually about five feet.
Caudexes are typically less than ten to twelve inches in size.
Leaflets are rather long and narrow. Newly emerging leaves can be
maroon or red-brown. This species likes strong filtered light or
can take coastal sun. Cold tolerance is into the low 20's F.
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Boxed specimen at nursery
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CERATOZAMIA
LATIFOLIA
This is another smaller,
filtered light loving cycad from Mexico. It is native to the
regions of San Luis Potosi and Hidalgo. Leaf length averages four,
perhaps five feet maximum. Leaves lay in a more horizontal
position. Caudex size is less than ten inches.
So, you can see that overall leaf crown width is under six feet or so.
The striking trait of this species is the red-orange emergent new leaves
as shown here. The leaflets are wide and un-armed. We
recommend filtered light for this species. Cold hardiness is
certainly the lower 20's F. or lower.
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Nursery specimen
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more of a red emergent form
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CERATOZAMIA
MEXICANA
This gorgeous cycad is
green in color and native to lowland as well as mountainous areas of
Vera Cruz, Mexico. There are various forms. Some are green
emergent but we’ve seen an occasional bronze emergent type. This
is a medium to large cycad with crown spreads of eight to ten feet.
Leaves tend to be horizontal and sometimes a bit dependent, especially
on older leaves. Leaf stems are spiny. Leaf length can be
six feet easily. Leaflets are medium width with no spines on
their edges. Caudex size can get up to two feet. Most would
grow this is a bit of sun or filtered light. But, right on the
coast, some have grown it well in half day sun. Cold tolerance is
down to the low 20’s F. Remember to give this species room to
grow.
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A coning sized nursery specimen, 20 yrs. old
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CERATOZAMIA
MIQUELIANA
This
beautiful Mexican cycad is native to several regions but most known for
its Chiapas locations. It grows from low elevations up to about
1200 feet. It is not as cold hardy as most of the Ceratozamias shown
here but many are growing it in Southern California. This is a
smaller cycad. Most notable are the newly emergent leaves that
show a blue color. Leaflets are shorter and wide. Caudexes
are small, typically under 8 inches. Cold hardiness is probably in
the mid-twenties F. This is a filtered light cycad.
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15 gallon nursery plant
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Female cone
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CERATOZAMIA
NORSTOGII
This
thin leaf, small to medium sized Mexican cycad is native to Chiapas and
Oaxaca. Over the years there’s been much confusion between this
species and Ceratozamia
plumosa described below.
Cycad taxonomists have changed these names back and forth multiple
times. Leaves are three to four feet long, upright, gently arch down.
Leaflets are long and narrow. The leaves are usually not twisted
as you’d see with C.
plumosa. Leaves can emerge a brown-red color. Trunk size
averages one to two feet mature. Leaf stems are very prickly with
spines. This plant can grow in strong filtered light or perhaps
coastal sun. Cold hardiness is down to the low 20’s F.
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Smaller nursery plant
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CERATOZAMIA "PALMA SOL"
This is a beautiful and tropical looking species from Veracruz, Mexico.
It has bright green leafs, in small to medium in stature (not
exceeding about 5-6’) and is a slow to moderate grower.
It is quite uncommon to come across this species, even in cycad
collections. It is somewhat
sun tolerant, and on the coast can take full sun. In far inland
areas or the desert it needs partial sun or filtered light. This
cycad definitely complements a tropical garden due to its fat tropical
leaflets which are a bright green (as opposed to an olive or dark
green). This species, like
most Ceratozamias, is fairly cold tolerant and will go into the
low 20’s F.
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Good starter size in a 5 gallon pot
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A more juvenile plant
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CERATOZAMIA
PLUMOSA
This has
always been one of the favorites of cycad enthusiasts. It is
similar to C. norstogii above
with thin leaflets. But, this species has even more thin leaves
and definitely a more upright crown. Also, individual leaves twirl
so they look very plumose or fluffy. If one could “un-twist” the
leaves, they’d be reminiscent of
C. norstogii. Leaf length is about four feet with leaflet length
four to five inches long. Leaf stems are very prickly.
Plants hold five to ten leaves. They emerge with a new bronze-red
color. Sometimes they are darker burgundy color. Plants are
not big, rarely over six feet tall ground to leaf tips. This would
be a part day sun or strong filtered light plant with cold hardiness
into the low 20's F.
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Smaller nursery plant
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CERATOZAMIA
ROBUSTA
This is
a very robust cycad that is of good size and has upright green leaves.
Native to southern Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, it is the largest
species of the Ceratozamia genus.
Specimens are spectacular if one has the room. It is described as
a variable species with different forms. Some forms are smaller.
Leaves can be six to eight feet long, are very upright and have heavy
spination on the petioles. Overall height can reach twelve feet
with six foot trunks. New leaves are green or sometimes bronze.
As this species comes from a more tropical area compared to other
species, it’s probably not quite as cold hardy. I’d estimate cold
tolerance at 24 to 25 degrees although others say it’ll take more cold.
It does best with filtered light.
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Female cone and spiny leaf stems
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Another nursery boxed specimen
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Smaller plant at nursery |
CYCAS ANGULATA
This species is native
to hot regions of the Northern Territory of Australia. It is known
for its blue or blue-green leaves. It likes hot and dry and not
too much cold. It doesn’t really tolerate a freeze. So, it’s
typically not a great choice for people right along the coast because of
the humidity in the coastal area. We've found them very difficult
to grow at our nursery locality. But, if you live in a more desert area where you don’t
freeze, perhaps you can grow it. But, it’s not easy. Mature
size can be over twenty feet. The photo here shows what looks like
a shorter plant. Trust that they do get well overhead. Cold
tolerance is minimally below a freeze if at all.
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CYCAS BIFIDA
AKA CYCAS MULTIFRONDIS
This
interesting and fairly cold hardy Cycas species
is native to southern China and Viet Nam. It has long upright
green leaves. But, this is not a bifurcating leaflet stem species
(like multipinata below).
Rather, it puts out two leaflets off a single stem. Or, single
leaflets seem to split into two leaflets. Historically, this is
one of the species that started out being called "Cycas micholitzii".
Later it was called Cycas
multifrondis. But, Cycas
bifida is now the correct
taxonomic name. Leaves are upright and long. Expect
somewhere in the eight to ten foot length. Plants usually just
carry three or four leaves and have a small caudex, not over about 10
inches, mostly subterranean. It prefers filtered light or morning
sun. Cold hardiness is definitely down to the low 20's F.
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Two 15g plants at nursery
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CYCAS CIRCINALIS
This
species has a worldwide representation and is commonly known as the
Queen Sago. In actuality, the Queen Sago is really Cycas rumphii, and
has been commonly misidentified as C. circinalis. Whereas
circinalis is similar in appearance, it has thinner leafs and in smaller
in size. Its widespread distribution throughout Asia, India and the
Pacific Islands. It is a large species as shown can see in these
pictures. Plants can get to 30 feet tall and can branch overhead.
Color is deep green. Leaves can be six to eight feet long with a
crown width of fifteen feet. This species, like other Cycas,
has been susceptible to Asian Scale infections in Florida over the past
ten years. Along our coast it tolerates full sun.
Cold tolerance is somewhere between 20 and 24 degrees F. For those
who like a big, showy cycad, this species is a good choice.
Although there are spines on the leaf stems, the leaves are soft to the
touch. A footnote is that one should be very cautious about
purchasing any type of Cycas that comes from an area infested
with Asian Scale. This includes Sago Palms from the popular exporting state of
Florida.
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Large specimen at nursery that is probably a
Cycas rumphii. (see text)
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CYCAS DEBAOENSIS
Native
to southern China, this is one of the most striking, different and
beautiful cycads in the world. It is extremely rare. Leaves
are upright, definitely arching and branch to the second and sometimes
third order. Leaf length is up to eight feet. In my
experience, this species is not as upright as C.
multipinnata below and
has a very full appearance. Leaves are fluffy. It prefers
filtered light, has cold hardiness to the low 20's F. and is being grown
successfully in Southern California. Stem size is small, often
subterranean and not over eight to ten inches.
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photo by Rare
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A nice nursery plant
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CYCAS MEDIA
This
attractive green leaf, pinnate cycad is native to Queensland and the
Northern Territory, Australia, New Guinea and some nearby islands. It
lives in scrubby forests, valleys and gullies. It reaches an
overall height of about ten feet in many decades with a trunk diameter
of about a foot. Leaf length is about four feet with an 18 inch or
more bare petiole. Leaf color is green, darker on the underside.
There are small barbs on the petioles. This is a full sun or part
day sun plant along the coast. Cold tolerance is somewhere in the
mid to low 20’s F. If the Cycas
circinalis above is too big, this might prove to be the right choice
with a similar look.
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Gorgeous plant at nursery
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Another very old nursery plant
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Female cone
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CYCAS MULTIPINNATA
This is a drop dead
gorgeous cycad. But, it is extremely difficult to find.
Native to Southern China and northern Viet Nam, its leaf stems are
complexly branched just like the Fishtail Palm. Caudex size is
small, typically under ten inches and mostly underground. Leaf
color is green to blue green. Leaves are upright, gently arching
and can get over ten feet long. This species likes a little sun or
strong filtered light. This species is hardy to the mid 20’s.
A lucky few are growing it in Southern California.
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Smaller nursery plant
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CYCAS
PANZHIHUAENSIS
This is
another Chinese Cycas species.
It should be thought of as a smaller Sago Palm with a bit different
color. Leaves are green to blue-green. Trunk height is
rarely over four feet. Leaves are four to five feet long.
So, mature, it is much smaller than Cycas
revoluta. Also, it is extremely cold hardy. It easily
tolerates temperatures into the upper teens with reports of surviving
into single digits F. Growth rate is medium. This is a full
sun cycad that should appeal to people who don't like the inevitable
larger size of the common Sago Palm.
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A good starter size for the garden
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CYCAS PECTINATA
This Cycas species has one of the largest
distributions of any cycads.
It is found in India Nepal, Burma, southern China (Yunnan),
Bangladesh, Burma, Malaysia, Cambodia, northern Thailand and Vietnam to
name just some of the countries.
Despite its vast distribution, this species has steadily been
declining in its native habitats.
This is due to the fact that this plant's leaves, stem and seeds
are eaten for food and medicine, and it is used in products like
shampoo. This species is a
sun loving and can eventually become quite large (over 10 meters),
though plants this large would mainly only be seen in the wild or
perhaps old botanical gardens.
Another interesting thing about this species is that it can vary
in color from a dark green color to an almost blue color.
This species is a moderate to fast grower and is cold tolerant
down to the mid 20’s F.
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Good starter size for garden
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CYCAS REVOLUTA
THE SAGO PALM
This is the most
commonly seen cycad worldwide. Native to Japan (and surrounding
islands, e.g. Okinawa and Ryukyu), this plant has been propagated so
much that you can find it in almost every temperate or warmer country
worldwide. It is a large and full species. Cute and smaller
plants from the local nursery eventually turn into overhead plants that
can be over twenty feet tall with an eighteen inch thick trunk and fifty
"babies" at the base. For this reason, it often overwhelms the
average homeowner's space. Leaves are green. Leaflets are a
bit prickly. It tolerates coastal sun but not hot summer desert
sun. Desert growers have to sun protect their plants in summer.
Cold hardiness is somewhere in the mid to upper teens F.
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Affordable size at nursery
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Nursery plants
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Sago Palm in a large box
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CYCAS RUMPHI
This species (commonly called a Queen sago) has a fairly large
distribution and can be found throughout most of South East Asia.
It is part of the Cycas circinalis complex.
The thing that separates this species out from C. circinalis
is that it tends to be more robust, i.e. it has larger leaves, has a
thicker trunk and also tend to make more pups (basal suckers).
It is a fast growing species which can get multiple meters tall
and is very palm-like in appearance.
This species is very versatile in the exposures it can take as it
thrives in sunny or shady conditions, though I think it tends to look
more tropical in a slightly protected spot.
This species is hardy to the mid to upper 20’s F.
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Fairly old nursery plant
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Petioles nursery plant
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CYCAS TAITUNGENSIS
AKA
CYCAS TAIWANIANUM
This is a great green Cycas from Taiwan.
It is a good grower and does well in full sun to part sun
conditions. It is similar
in appearance to a Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta), except there are
a few key differences:
1)
This species
is not quite as cold hardy as a Cycas revoluta, but can tolerate most
conditions in Southern California (can withstand the upper teens F).
2)
The leaflets
are longer and softer.
3)
Instead of
being tightly keeled (“v” shaped) they’re more relaxed.)
4)
It is a more
robust plant, i.e. it makes a larger and taller trunk and has longer
leafs.
5)
It carries a
thick reddish tomentum (plant hair) toward the top of the trunk.
6)
It is
certainly rarer than a Sago, and is rare to come by in most gardens.
7)
This species
is much faster growing than Cycas revoluta.
I would say it grows up to three times faster from my experience.
Cycas taitungensis is a great substitute for people who love
the look of a Sago, but are not in love with how slow it grows.
This
species is a bit friendlier and is overall a more attractive plant.
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DIOON ANGUSTIFOLIUM
For
decades, there's been an argument as to whether this "species" is a type
of Dioon edule or
merits its own title as a species. Regardless, it is a beautiful
and smaller plant that has very thin leaflets. Leaf color is green
to gray-green. The hallmark of the species is the presence of very
thin leaflets. These are thinner than the average leaflets of Dioon
edule. Also, it is common to see new flushes of pink colored
leaves as shown. A mature plant rarely has a trunk height of more
than three feet and leaf crown diameter is about five to six feet.
Growth rate is slow. These will sucker from the base. They
love full sun and are cold hardy well into the teens F.
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This and last plant are nice nursery specimens
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Note very thin leaflets
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Caudex of another old nursery plant |
DIOON CALIFANOI
This Mexican cycad is
native to the Oaxaca and Puebla regions where is grows among forest
trees. Its most striking characteristic is the sharply keeled
leaves with a 90 degree angle between opposing columns of leaflets.
Leaflets are tightly spaced. Leaf color is green to gray-green.
A very old plant may have up to ten feet of trunk (centuries old in
habitat). Also, with this kind of age, one sees trunks lay down
and crawl the ground. Leaf length is about four to five feet.
In coastal areas and many inland areas, this is a full sun plant.
In deserts, I'd recommend a few hours of sun. Cold hardiness is
into the low 20's or a bit colder. This species is loved by
enthusiasts and very coveted and sought out.
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Leaf of a nursery plant: note keeled, tight leaflets
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Nursery plant |
DIOON CAPUTOI
This is
one of the more rare types of Dioons. For decades, no nursery
could offer them for sale. But, about twenty years ago seeds were
finally available and a few nurseries were able to grow them. The
reason for the shortage was that locals in the habitat of the Puebla
region in Mexico strictly prohibited viewing the plants or collecting
seeds. There it's in a high elevation habitat in full sun. The
hallmark of the species is the presence of widely spaced and rather thin
leaflets. Leaf length is about four, perhaps five feet. A
friend of the nursery visited the habitat and saw trunks approaching ten
feet tall. This is a full sun species for most areas with a cold
hardiness of about 20 degrees F.
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Very old nursery specimen, coning size
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Another older nursery plant
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DIOON EDULE
This is
a very interested species of Mexican cycad. I say this because
there are many locality varieties that have been found. Although
still the same species, when you travel from habitat to habitat for this
species, plants literally look different. The difference is in
terms of plant size, leaf length, leaflets, etc. But, the cones
and reproductive parts are similar so all are called "Dioon edule".
We will not present the different forms of Dioon edule here.
This is typically a slow growing and smaller cycad. An extremely
old plant would have three to four feet of trunk. They often
sucker and form clusters of stems. One could remove the suckers
and keep it as a single trunk specimen. They love full, hot sun
and this is the only species that does well with full desert sun.
Cold hardiness is into the mid-teens F.
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In habitat by JO
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In habitat by JO
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Twenty year old nursery plant
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Monster clustering nursery specimen
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DIOON HOLMGRENII
This
very rare cycad lives in pine and oak forests in the Oaxaca region of
Mexico. In habitat, it's reported that trunks can reach a 20 foot
height. When younger, leaves are covered with soft wool.
Leaves are much longer on this species than with Dioon
edule above. Trunks
are somewhat narrow at 12 to 16 inches. Leaf color is green.
Cold hardiness is into the low 20's F. Along the coast, this cycad
easily tolerates full sun. Far inland areas should use part day
sun. Like many other Dioons,
this species can sucker at the base. These can be removed.
This is a very attractive species.
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Photo c/o TS at RPS
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DIOON MEROLAE
This has
always been one of our nursery favorites. It's a slow growing
species from Chiapas, Mexico. Trunks can, over centuries, get up
to ten feet tall. Trunk thickness is about a foot on average.
They can branch overhead and pup from the base. Leaf color is
green or a definite gray-green as shown in the second photo. A
plant with a 3 foot trunk can easily be a hundred years old.
Leaves are gently keeled and leaflets are spined and reflected backwards
toward the ground. Thus, in cross section the leaf looks like the
wings of a bird. The span of leaves on a healthy plant is five to
eight feet. Along the coast this species takes full sun. In
far inland areas, I'd give morning sun. Cold hardiness is down to
about 20 to 22 degrees F. It's not as cold hardy as Dioon edule
but, I think, a lot prettier. The third picture is of one of the
old specimens at the nursery. It has over 30 inches of trunk.
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Super old nursery specimen
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Centuries old plant in habitat - photo by JO |
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Another 100 year old specimen
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Another old specimen |
DIOON PURPUSII
This is a very nice species from Oaxaca, Mexico.
It is known as the fish bone cycad because of how its leaves look
(spaced leaflets which have a similar took to a fish’s skeleton).
This beautiful cycad has green leaflets which have a fine
silvery/white tomentum. It
is hardy to sun, though it can tolerate a partial sun exposure.
This species is slow growing, but can get to heights several
meters tall. This would not
be typical in cultivation though.
D. purpusii is quite rare in cultivation and is a real treat to
see in person. It is hardy
down to the mid 20’s.
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Habitat by MM |

Habitat photo by MM
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Juvenile garden plant |
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Good sized nursery plant
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DIOON RZEDOWSKII
This tropical looking species is from Oaxaca, Mexico.
It is similar in appearance to Dioon spinulosum and Dioon mejiae
(known as the D. spinulosum complex).
The main difference you can see in this species which sets it
apart as unique is that it is hardier to sun than either of its
counterparts and it carries leaflets down to the base of the petiole.
This species is a slow to moderate grower and can get about 7-8
feet tall in cultivation, though much taller specimens exist in the
wild. It has beautiful green
leaves and is moderately spined.
This species is not tremendously hardy, but can tolerate into the mid to
upper 20’s F
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Habitat photo by JO |
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Habitat by JO
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Photo by JO |

Photo by JO
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Habitat by JO |
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Nice boxed specimen
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DIOON SONORENSE
This
cycad species comes from Sinaloa, Sonora, Mexico and has two forms.
One of these is blue in color. They come from a very hot and dry,
almost desert-like environment. And, they are found at high
elevations. So, they are a pretty tough species. A very old
plant might have two to three feet of trunk. Leaves are flat in
cross section and leaflets are long and narrow. Leaf color could
be green or a silver-blue. I've seen specimens almost as blue as a
blue Encephalartos.
They tolerate sun along the coast and are probably cold hardy into the
upper teens F. This is a very rare species to find. Of note,
historically this plant was grouped with a related species Dioon
tomasellii.
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DIOON SPINULOSUM
This
larger species of Dioon is
native to rainforest areas in east and southern Mexico. There it
grows to elevations up to 1500 feet. It is exotic and deeply
green. It's called the Giant Dioon although other species can
match its height. Trunks are not thick, usually less than 12
inches. Leaves are four to six feet long and a nice crown can hold
thirty or forty leaves. Leaflets are flat and toothed at the edges
with small spines. Trunks can get up to 25 feet tall although such
a plant could be many hundreds of years old.
I'm
showing extra photos of this species as there's a good chance you may
come across one. Of the Dioons,
this species is the most likely one you'd see in a nursery. They
are not particularly rare. In the tropics or right on the coast, they
can take full sun. But, they always look best without full sun.
Morning sun, a little sun or strong filtered light gives the best
looking plants. If you like this species, consider Dioon
mejiae instead for full sun areas. Cold tolerance is down into
the lower 20's F. This is not one of the most cold hardy Dioons at
all.
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Very old nursery specimen
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Popular 15g size at nursery
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A fifty year old plant with a curved trunk |
DIOON TOMASELLII
This medium sized and very attractive cycad is native to western
Mexico. For many decades it was considered to be a species with
two different plant forms in conjuction with the now separated Dioon
sonorense. However, enthusiasts have recognized obvious
differences between the two. Therefore, about 20 years ago
Chemnick and Gregory separated the two into two different species with
Dioon sonorense given its own species status. Dioon
tomasellii is known for its arching leaves, furry leaf stems but
mostly the reflexed, somewhat sickle shape leaflets. This curve is
sickle shaped with the terminal leaflet tip pointing more downwards. One photo below
demonstrates the leaflet shape. Leaf color is green and sometimes
an almost lime green in sun. Leaves are three to six feet long and
caudex height is usually six feet or less mature. So, this is a
medium sized mature plant. It'll take sun or part sun along the
coast and is cold hardy to the mid, perhaps low 20's F. This
species is extremely rare and near impossible to find in coning size.
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25 gallon, near coning sized plant |
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Picture of smaller plant to show the slight
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Another smaller plant |
ENCEPHALARTOS AEMULANS
This green species of Encephalartos is
native to one region in the Natal District of South Africa. It can
reach a height of ten feet but the trunks are
not overly fat, typically twelve to eighteen inches. Leaf length
is four to six feet. Color is green and leaflets are armed.
Compared to other Encephalartos, this would be a "medium sized"
one. Plant care is easy. They like sun along the coast and
are cold hardy to the low 20's F.
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photo by Wayne Atkinson Arkive
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photo by Botany.cs internet site
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Nursery specimen in a box
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ENCEPHALARTOS ALTENSTEINII
Compared to the Encephalartos
aemulans above, this is a
faster growing and bigger species. Leaves are six to eight feet
long. The trunk is very stout, over 24 inches if well grown.
Mature plant height can approach twenty feet in many decades. Leaf
color is green. Leaflets are shiny. A hallmark of this
species is the lack of prickles at the base of the leaf stem. In
other words, one could grab the leaf there and not get stuck by
prickles. Along the coast, this species easily tolerates full sun
and is cold hardy to about 20 to 22 degrees F. The last photo
shows a larger plant from the nursery with over three feet of trunk.
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older
plant at nursery
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Another old nursery plant
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ENCEPHALARTOS ARENARIUS
This unusual cycad is from the Eastern Cape of the Republic of South
Africa. It is known for its very prickly (prominently lobed) fat
leaflets. In terms of leaf color, there's a spectrum from green to
blue. The "true blue" E. arenarius is a very rare species that is
seldom seen. But, in habitat, leaf color can be dark green, light
green or a blue green. So, you may see this species in any of
these colors. Leaf length can be as short as three feet or as long
as six feet. Trunk height is usually less than three feet although
eight or more foot tall stems exist in habitat.
The third
picture below shows the blue form of this species. The last
picture shows the leaflets. Note the prominent and wide barbs on
the leaf edges.
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True blue form
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the true blue form of E.
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Nursery specimen
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Nursery specimen - Clustering specimen |
ENCEPHALARTOS
CAFFER
A DWARF CYCAD
This is a dwarf cycad
species from South Africa. There are several forms. All are
small. Leaves are never over three feet long and are green to
gray-green in color. The plant is fairly compact. On some
varieties, the leaves are plumose as shown in the third photo.
Other varieties are more of a flat leaf. The caudexes are
subterranean and are generally under eight inches. This species
likes sun and is as cold hardy as most of the other plants in this
genus. They are slow growing.
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In habitat by R. Smitt, PACOA
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Plant at nursery
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ENCEPHALARTOS
CERINUS
ANOTHER DWARF CYCAD
This is another dwarf
species from the Natal area of South Africa. Habitat localities
are limited to a single locality. It never has leaves
over three feet long. The caudexes are subterranean and are ten
inches or less. Leaf color is a dull or gray-green. They get
this color from a thin waxy coating that they produce (cerinus actually
means “waxy”). This sun loving species fits into the smallest of
areas in the garden. Unfortunately, it's near impossible to find
with any size for sale. Cold tolerance is the low 20's F.
Desert areas require only a few hours of morning sun.
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An affordable nursery plant
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ENCEPHALARTOS
CUPIDUS
A SUPER RARE BLUE
CYCAD
This is a medium sized,
cycad from the Transvaal region of South Africa. It is quite
variable in color (green, gray and blue) and leaf form. It can
develop a six foot or more trunk (in a hundred years) that’s about 12
inches in diameter. Leaves are about three feet long, though the
can be slightly longer or shorter, depending on cultivar. Leaflets
point upwards, are under an inch wide and have sharp, pungent spines at
their margins. This is a full sun species along the coast and
needs protection from too much sun in the desert. Cold hardiness
is about 22 degrees F.
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Photo by PH PACSOA
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Nursery plant
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ENCEPHALARTOS
DOLOMITICUS
BLUE, RARE AND SUPER
EXPENSIVE
This is an even rarer
species from the Transvaal region of South Africa. It develops a
trunk that can be up to six feet tall and be decumbent (laying down with
leaves emerging
upward from the end). The leaflets are blue, about six inches long
and point upwards. But, one often sees the position of the
leaflets spiraling around the axis of the leaf. This may be
subtle. Leaves are keeled and the leaflets point distally at a 45
degree angle. Leaflets may be a bit curved and come to a pointed
end. Leaf length is usually four to six feet. This is a full
sun plant along the coast with a cold hardiness of about 22 degree F.
Because of rarity, most nurseries rarely have one and when they do, they
are very expensive.
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specimen at nursery
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Another nursery plant
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ENCEPHALARTOS
EUGENE-MARAISII
This is the third
species in a row from the Transvaal area of South Africa. Some of
the most unusual and interesting cycads come from there. This
species, although not inexpensive, is a bit more affordable. It is
a blue to blue-green cycad. The plant shown here is very
attractive and shows a nice blue color and overlapping upright leaflets.
Leaf length can reach six feet and so can the trunk. Leaflet point
upwards and are laying side by side, like dominos lined up in a row.
This plant is a very attractive species. It’s a full sun species
along the coast with a cold tolerance similar to the others from this
region.
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A nice nursery plant
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Another nursery plant
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ENCEPHALARTOS
FEROX
CYCAD WITH A RED CONE
I am showing a lot of
pictures of this popular green leaf cycad that produces red cones.
It’s from Natal, South Africa. Remember, cycads have two sexes – male
and female. On this species, almost always, the cone is a fire
engine red. Occasionally it’s more of an orange color. The
males tend more toward the orange color. The leaves are about six
feet long. The leaflets resemble the “holly fern” with prominent
lobes as shown here. This species really doesn’t produce much
vertical trunk. It can sucker. But, you almost never see a
mature plant over seven or eight feet tall from the ground to the top of
the leaves. This cycad can take filtered light or part day sun.
Cold hardiness is 22 degrees F.
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female cone, photo by Cycad Society webpage
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male cones
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ENCEPHALARTOS
HILDEBRANDTII
This Central African
cycad is of medium size and native to Kenya, Tanzania and possibly
Mozambique. In habitat, it grows at anywhere from sea level to
2000 feet elevation. When I think of this species I remember two
things: New leaves emerge vertically in a V-shaped crown.
And, that the leaflets have multiple thin points on the end, sort of
resembling a pitch fork. New emergent leafs are generally green
but can sometime have a copper color. Leaves are green and about
six to eight feet long. The trunk is stout and up to eight feet
height. Leaves are a glossy green color. Growth is vigorous
and it's been said that it can cone in less than a decade. Trunks
can get up to almost twenty feet and in my experience are about 18+
inches thick when well grown.
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Plant with new flush of leaves
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Nursery specimen
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A more affordable 15g size
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ENCEPHALARTOS
HORRIDUS
THE MOST POPULAR BLUE
CYCAD
There's
a saying in the nursery trade that "you can never have too many Encephalartos
horridus". I would agree. No matter how many we have in
stock, we routinely run out of one size or another. This
strikingly blue cycad is from the Eastern Cape district of the Republic
of South Africa. It is not a very large mature cycad. A two
foot tall trunk would be considered "very large", though they can get a
bit taller.
Leaves are three to four feet long. They typically
curve downward, sometimes prominently. The striking things are the
color and the extremely spiny and lobed leaflets. And, one lobe
along the margin of the leaflet is "flipped" back. It's quite
noticeable. Color varies from silver to aqua blue to a silver
blue. I like to think of the color of this species resembling a
blue sky with a little fog mixed in. They love sun and heat, but
not in the desert. There just give them a few hours of sun.
Cold hardiness is down to almost 20 degrees F.
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Specimen at nursery
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A smaller nursery plant |
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Another very large nursery specimen
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Another dwarf form of E. horridus
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ENCEPHALARTOS INOPINUS
ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER SPECIES
NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND
This is one of the most sought
after of all the South African cycads. When a nursery has one and
tells customers, it is typically sold within a day or two. It's
native habitat is in the Mpumalanga Province in South Africa where fewer
than three hundred plants remain in the wild. Plant stems are
under ten feet mature and rather narrow for this height - about ten to
twelve inches. Leaves are three to five feet long and have a
blue-green to blue color. Leaflets often hang down in a dependent
fashion as shown here. Also unique are the falcate/sickle-shaped
leaflets. This is also seen with Microcycas and Dioon
tomasellii. The latter is often called "The poor man's
inopinus".
Seeds are seldom available and most nursery plants come from the removal
of offsets from a parent plant. (see photo). These are
difficult to establish and can be lost to rot. Because of these
factors, it's near impossible to find a plant of this species. If
an enthusiast likes it, he should buy when available because this
seldom happens. It is a sun cycad with a cold tolerance into the
low 20's F.
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Close up of the leaf of a nursery plant to
show
the sickle shaped leaflets curving downwards
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A spectacular specimen in a garden
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A removed offset -ready for rooting after
trimming off some leaf. This is how most
plants are grown and offered for sale.
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ENCEPHALARTOS
KISAMBO
This
good sized Central African cycad comes from the Voi region in Kenya.
Discovered about fifty years ago, it is known for rather long and
upright green leaves. Trunks get to eight feet in many decades and
are 18 to 24 inches thick. Leaves are somewhat rounded at the end,
narrowed toward the base and get over ten feet long. There is a
slight keel to the leaves. This is a vigorous growing species that
like coastal sun and protection inland. Cold tolerance is
somewhere between 22 and 24 degrees F.
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ENCEPHALARTOS
LATIFRONS
UNBELIEVABLY RARE
This
species is native to the Eastern Cape region in South Africa.
There it is essentially extinct in the wild. Extremely old
specimens have eight to ten feet of thick trunk. On these habitat
plants you'll see rings of old brown leaves hanging down. Fresh
leaves are a glossy green and three to five feet long. They curl
back completely. Leaves and leaflets are stiff, hard and green in
color. Leaflets are prominently lobed. If one looks at the
cross section of the leaf, it is prominently keeled, even more so toward
the distal leaf. Leaflets are wide, have many lobes. They
overlap like stacked dominos. Once you've seen one up close,
you'll remember the look. The closest species to this cycad is Encephalartos
arenarius. E. latifrons wants
full sun on the coast and is cold hardy to the lower 20's F.
Plants are unbelievably expensive as there are seldom any for sale.
It's a coveted and sought out species for collectors.
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A small plant at the nursery
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ENCEPHALARTOS
LAURENTIANUS
LONGEST LEAFED CYCAD
IN THE WORLD
This
cycad species with massively long leaves is native to the Kwango River
rain forests in southwest Democratic Republic of Congo. It is
known for having the longest leaves of any cycad. They can reach
lengths of over twenty-one feet! They are strong leaves with dark
green leaflets. They emerge and go straight up. Old leaves
may flex down somewhat. Trunks can reach twenty feet and the crown
spread of leaves is enormous, perhaps thirty feet. Being
from deep Central Africa, this species is not as cold hardy as many
others. Yet, many still grow it in our locality. My
recommendation is to maybe try one if you are frost free. Sun
(coastal/mild climates), part day sun or shade for all other climates
would work. They are near impossible to find but from time to time
we have this rare species available.
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An eight year old plant at the nursery
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ENCEPHALARTOS
LEBOMBOENSIS
This
medium sized, green leaf cycad comes from the Lebombo Mountains in the
Republic of South Africa. It has several habitat locations.
In more recent times, the species of E.
senticosus was split from
this complex. E.
lebomboensis has a trunk
that is fairly narrow for its trunk height of ten to twelve feet. I call
this a "medium" size because leaves are typically only four to six feet
long with widths of about two feet. Leaflets are a glossy green,
not very long or wide and mildly armed. In the average garden,
don't expect more than four to six feet in your lifetime. This is
a full sun species and cold hardy to the low 20's F.
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Plant at nursery
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A boxed specimen at nursery
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ENCEPHALARTOS
LEHMANII
ANOTHER BLUE CYCAD
WITH LESS SPINES
This is a popular blue
cycad from the Eastern Cape area of South Africa. I say this
because some people don't like spines and prickles. The leaflets
of this species are narrow with only a point at the end. The
leaves and crown are very neat and uniform. The nearest species to
this one is Encephalartos
princeps. Trunks can get to five feet, but one with two to
three feet of trunk is very old. Leaves average about four feet
long and are strongly curled. Sometimes they'll almost do a 360
degree re-curve. Leaf color is intensely blue like E. horridus.
But, you'll only see this color with full, hot sun. In shade or
inside a greenhouse they are often green. Cold hardiness is about
21 to 22 degrees F. In the desert only give it a few hours sun.
Next to Encephalartos
horridus, this is the second most popular cycad we grow.
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Specimen at nursery
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This an next photo of nursery specimens
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ENCEPHALARTOS
LONGIFOLIUS
Discovered in the late 1770's, this was one of the first fully described
species of Encephalartos.
It's native to the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. In a
century or two, trunks can reach up over fifteen feet and divide
overhead. Suckers are produced at the base. Leaves are
strongly curved downwards in a very attractive manner. Leaf length
is three to six feet. Leaf color is variable. They can be
anywhere from a dark olive green to a brilliant blue. Leaves are
keeled and leaflets overlap and stack.
In my opinion, this is
one of the most beautiful cycads in the world. Yes, it can get
tall, but long after an average person's life span. It likes
coastal sun and partial sun in the desert. Cold hardiness is down
to the very low 20's F.
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large double caudex from nursery
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A nice 15 gallon plant
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A green leafed nursery specimen
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ENCEPHALARTOS
MANIKENSIS
This
green Central African cycad is native to Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
It is a prototypical cycad for a group of similar "species" in this
region that are known as the "Manikensis complex".
This would include such varieties or species as E.
bandula, concinnus, chimanimaniensis and
others. Taxonomists are still working out which plants deserve species
status.
In any
case, E. manikensis is
a medium sized green cycad with trunks up to four to six feet.
Leaf lengths are also four to six feet long with glossy green leaflets.
This is a quick growing species good for coastal sun or part sun and is
cold hardy into the low 20's F.
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Specimen at nursery
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Another boxed specimen
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ENCEPHALARTOS MIDDELBURGENSIS
This a beautiful blue species from South Africa.
It used to be a sub-variety of Encephalartos eugene-maraisii,
but was later separated out as its own species.
It is quite rare in cultivation and is highly sought after among
collectors. This a species
grows moderately-slowly and prefers full sun.
It can reach heights of a few meters, but under most
circumstances does not exceed 5-6 feet.
The leaflets are armed, but are nothing too vicious and the
petioles have some prickles/thorns.
This species can tolerate the mid to lower twenties F.
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plant with a six inch caudex |
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Another
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ENCEPHALARTOS
MSINGANUS
AKA
ENCEPHALARTOS MSGINGA
This species is a green species from the KwaZulu-Natal province in South
Africa. This species does
well in sun and is a moderate to slow grower.
In cultivation this plant is quite rare, and according to some
reports, is completely extinct in the wild now.
This species is smaller (not exceeding a couple meters ever) and
has very spiny leaflets and petioles.
It is similar in appearance to Encephalartos piet reteifii
(now E. lebomboensis), though is less robust and slower
growing. This plant is
fairly hard and can tolerate the mid 20’s F.
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Coning sized specimen at nursery |
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Boxed specimen
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ENCEPHALARTOS MUCHII
This attractive and rare species of African cycad is native to central
Mozambique. It is not a large mature plant and has a stem length
mature of about three feet. The interesting thing is the leaf
color - it is variable. Color ranges from a sea-foam or soapy
green almost to a true blue color. Leaf length is three to four
feet and the leaflets are armed. This is a very rare species and
seldom is available in coning size from any nursery. Enthusiasts
are very keen to this plant and seek it out. Along the coast it
can take full sun but many grow it in part day sun. Cold tolerance
is into the mid to lower 20's F.
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A nice 15g plant for the garden
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ENCEPHALARTOS
NATALENSIS
This
versatile green cycad is a mainstay of every cycad collection.
There's not a cycad enthusiast who's not growing this species. It
is native to the Eastern Cape in South Africa. There it is found
in various regions with differences in plant appearance from area to
area. Thus, there are probably about six varieties of this
species, all a bit different. So, when you see an Encephalartos
natalensis in a garden,
it may look a bit different than the next one you see. Trunks get
up to twenty feet in a century or two.
Leaves are five to eight
feet long, straight or minimally arched, and more compact in bright sun.
Growth rate is medium to fast. I'd consider this a medium to large
species. Cold tolerance is about 22 degrees F.
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Very large specimen at nursery
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Another nice nursery plant
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Another
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ENCEPHALARTOS PAUCIDENTATUS
This is a beautiful green species from South Swaziland area of South
Africa. It is somewhat
similar in appearance to Encephalartos heenanii, but is less
erect in its leaf habit and generally is more robust and spinier.
It does not have the "basket" shape to the leaf crown like heenanii.
It prefers sun coastally and needs some protection inland (half
day sun or less) to look its best.
This cycad is very rare in cultivation, and is generally only
seen in avid cycad collectors’ gardens.
It can reach heights over 5 meters and looks very palm-like, but
I have never seen one over 8-9 feet in any garden setting in our area.
It is a moderate grower and generally will flush (make new leafs)
once a year. E.
paucidentatus is a bit cold sensitive and will only really tolerate
the mid to upper twenties F without protection.
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A nice 15g for the garden |
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Note narrow leaflets
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Another nursery plant |
ENCEPHALARTOS PRINCEPS
A GORGEOUS BLUE SOUTH AFRICAN CYCAD
This deeply blue cycad is native to the Eastern Cape region of
the Republic of South Africa. From that area, this species is
considered the most desirable and sought after of the four "basic blues"
from Natal. It is similar to Encephalartos lehmannii, but
the leaflets are rotated on their leaflet axis toward the central plant
and appear more "stacked". Leaf length averages about four feet,
sometimes a bit more. The caudex is tan in color, has gold collars
near the attachment of the leaf stems and is typically twelve to
eighteen inches in diameter. A three to four foot tall stem would
be a very mature trunk although they can get somewhat taller with lots
of age. Leaves are blue. This is a sun species along our
coast but needs some protection in the desert. Cold tolerance is
about 22 degrees F. This species is hard to find and
typically expensive.
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Specimen plant at nursery |
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Crown of leaves, different nursery plant
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Another boxed specimen
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Another |
ENCEPHALARTOS SCLAVOI
This Tanzania species is very attractive and is
critically endangered.
Earlier collections of this plant were confused with another species
from the area (Encephalartos turneri) because they share some
similar traits. This
species looks its best with some sun protection, i.e. half day or less
in most areas. It will
tolerate full sun coastally, but I think that it tends to be a bit less
green than it would be otherwise.
This species has very cupped leaflets which are moderately to
heavily spiny and the petioles do have prickles and thorns.
And interesting variable to this species is that there does seem
to be two distinctive cultivars, one has larger, less cupped leaflets
which are green emergent.
This variety also tend to be the more robust of the two.
The other cultivar has a reddish/brown emergent leaf which is
more cupped and shorter.
Both types are quite nice, though I am partial to the reddish/brown
emergent one. Like many of
the Central African species, this one is not very cold tolerant.
At best is will tolerate the mid-twenties F without protection.
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Note cupping to leaflets
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Coning sized specimen at nursery |
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Old spent male cones on previous nursery
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ENCEPHALARTOS SENTICOSUS
This species medium sized green species can be found in both Mozambique
and South Africa. This is a
sun loving species and is a moderate grower.
These are moderately rare as far as Encephalartos go,
but is generally not seen in cultivation.
This species is fairly spiny both on the leaflets and petioles.
It can get about 6-7 feet tall and about the same width.
This species is hardy to the mid 20’s F.
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Large specimen plant at nursery
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Another
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ENCEPHALARTOS
TRANSVENOSUS
A LARGE AND
EVENTUALLY TALL GREEN CYCAD
This
spectacular cycad from the Modjaji Forest in northern South Africa will
eventually resemble a palm tree in its appearance. It has very
long leaves and develops a very thick trunk over thirty feet tall.
The third photo from habitat shows such an appearance of several plants.
From a distance, you'd mistake it for a palm. As this species
suckers, lower stems can lie on the ground and crawl (last photo).
Leaf length is always over six feet and usually eight feet or longer.
Color is always green and close inspection show a bit of a gray "dust"
on the leaflets, almost like a light over-spray of gray paint. If you
get this species, give it lots of room. The crown of dozens of
leaves can take a fifteen foot circle. Plants take full coastal
sun and cold hardiness is into the low 20's F.
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Centuries old specimens in habitat
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Super old plants in domestic planting in South Africa
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Nursery specimen
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Another boxed specimen
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ENCEPHALARTOS
TRISPINOSUS
ANOTHER SPINY BLUE
SOUTH AFRICAN CYCAD
This species is
quite similar in appearance to E.
horridus.
It is also from the Eastern Cape region of RSA and
has a brilliant blue color when grown in bright sun. Overall size
is small over time. The last picture shows a decades old caudex
that's about fourteen inches in diameter. Leaves are about four
feet long, strongly curved or arching, leaflets are heavily lobed and
spiny. Crowns of leaves are compact. This is a full sun
species with excellent cold hardiness to the low 20's F. Remember,
in desert areas, give it just a few hours of sun.
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Specimen at nursery
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ENCEPHALARTOS UMBELUZIENSIS
This smaller African
cycad comes from the Umbeluzi river region in Swaziland and Mozambique.
In habitat is is slow growing under the leaves of overhead Oak Trees.
Leaves are about four to six feet long, leaflets are narrow and armed
and caudex size is usually under ten inches. It does sucker and
can form a clump of plants. It never achieves any vertical trunk
height. Historically, this species has been confused with the
similar E. villosus. The
main difference is that umbeluziensis leaf stems are free of
prickles or spines in the lower (closest to stem) six inches.
Leaflets decrease in length toward the base of the leaf but not to
prickles. Growth rate is slow. This species prefers strong
filtered light and has a cold hardiness into the mid, perhaps low 20's
F.
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A good starting size, 15g at nursery
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ENCEPHALARTOS
VILLOSUS
FILTERED LIGHT
SPECIES WITH A GOLD COLORED CONE
This species is native
to the East London area of the Eastern Cape. It's interesting
because it doesn't form much of a vertical trunk. Most of the
caudex is subterranean so the overall size of the plant is mostly due to
the leaf length. The latter are upright, lay down with age and
have a length of six to eight feet. Thus, a plant is rarely over
eight feet tall. Leaflets are thin, mildly armed and green in
color. An amazing thing is the color of the cones, especially the
female cone. They are gold in color. When the red seeds poke
through, it's quite attractive. This plant can take half day sun
or more along the coast but also does well in bright filtered light.
Cold hardiness is about 22 degrees F.
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Specimen at nursery
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Another nursery plant, coning sized in full
sun
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ENCEPHALARTOS WHITELOCKII
This desirable cycad species first
appeared on the market two to three decades ago. At that time it
was known as the "Uganda Giant" and an assortment of other common names.
This species was named after the famous cycad author Loran Whitelock.
It proved to be a quick growing species with very long, upright leaves.
Stems are very thick and can get up to almost fifteen feet tall over
time. Leaves are long - up to twelve to fourteen feet long.
They are green in color. Leaflets are narrow and armed. It
is quick growing and will tolerate full sun along the coast. But,
I think they look best in part day sun. If one lives far inland or
in a desert area, try strong filtered light. It has some trouble
with dry Santa Ana winds. Although most enthusiasts can grow it,
because of its natural habitat in Central Africa, it is not as cold
tolerant as species from colder South Africa. Figure it'll take
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Specimen plant at nursery - double caudex
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ENCEPHALARTOS
WOODII
EXTINCT IN THE WILD
- NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND
I'm
mentioning this species as the last Encephalartos here
because it is quite famous. This is because it is totally extinct
in the wild with only one male plant known to exist (not in habitat).
This one male has suckered and given progeny that have made their way
around the planet. There are no females. So, no "seedlings"
are impossible - only suckers are available rarely from existing larger
plants. This is a medium to large plant with wide, stacking
leaflets, a thick trunk and prominent, wide barbs on the leaflets.
Leaves arch strongly. Leaf color is green. It's a coastal
sun species and cold hardiness is about the same as others of the genus.
Plants are almost never available.
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END OF SECTION ON ENCEPHALARTOS
There are many other species of this genus which one can grow in
Southern California. But, I limited the numbers of species
discussed to keep the size of this article manageable.
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MACROZAMIA
COMMUNIS
This
Australian species of cycad is native to New South Whales. Trunk
height maxes out at about six to seven feet in many decades.
Leaves are four to seven feet long with long, thin green leaflets.
The latter come to a point. Leaf width is about 18 inches.
An important thing is to notice that leaves are flat in cross section. M.
moorei below is keeled.
The first photo shows plants in habitat. But, don’t be fooled.
A well grown specimen can get sort of large. This is a full sun
species in most areas and is cold hardy into the upper teens at the
coldest. Dug plants often die.
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Photo by Thompson & Kennedy, PACSOA
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Specimen at nursery
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Female cone on nursery specimen
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A more affordable 15g plant
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MACROZAMIA
JOHNSONI
This
species is also from New South Whales, Australia but is somewhat taller
and bigger than M.
communis above.
Trunk height gets to about ten feet, although shorter is more common.
Leaves can easily get to eight feet long. A distinguishing
characteristic is that individual leaflets angle forward toward the leaf
tip at a 45 degree angle. Leaf color is green. This is a sun
species and has similar cold tolerance at the other described here.
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MACROZAMIA MIQUELII
This Australian species of Macrozamia is known
for not getting very large. Caudex size is maximum a few feet with
five foot long green leaves that arch slightly. Leaflets are
narrow and there is no blue in the leaves. Growth rate is slow to
medium. This is a great species for a smaller garden that cannot
handle the larger Macrozamia moorei. Along the coast one
can grow this species in full sun, part sun or it'll do ok in strong
filtered light. Cold hardiness is into the low 20's F. easily.
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Photo by Chris Gray, PACSOA
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Near specimen size at nursery
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MACROZAMIA MOOREI
Of these Macrozamia being
described in this series, this is by far the largest when mature.
They can make palm tree looking plants. Specimens in habitat have
attained an overall height of thirty feet. Fifteen feet is more
the rule. Leaves are also longer than the other species and deeply
keeled. Leaf color is green or blue green. This is another
plant that needs room to grow. In the SF Bay area, I was told this
species was the best grower up there. It wants full sun and can go
into the teens F.
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Specimen at nursery
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MACROZAMIA RIEDLEI
Of the Macrozamias shown
here, this is probably the smallest of the four. Trunk heights are
two feet to five feet. Leaves are either flat or sometimes keeled
and a gray green in color. This species is native to the
north-west part of Australia near or south of Perth. Leaves are
about five feet tall. Cones are short. This species likes
full sun along the coast and is cold hardy to the low 20’s F.
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ZAMIA
ABLYPHYLLIDIA
This
semi-dwarf cycads is native to Cuba, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. Cuban
botanists feel that there are three different varieties or subspecies in
Cuba alone. Caudex size is six inches or less with leaves from two to
along five feet long. I’ve seen mature plants where the top of the
leaves is almost five feet. But, most plants are shorter.
Leaflets are four inches or less long and have rounded ends. It
likes strong filtered light or perhaps more sun right on the coast.
Cold hardiness is into the mid-twenties.
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Orange female cones on nursery plant
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ZAMIA
FISCHERI
AKA ZAMIA VASQUEZII
DWARF, CUTE, TAKES FILTERED LIGHT
This dwarf
yet exotic cycad species comes from the Tamaulipas area in Mexico where
it lives in tropical forests. It is a definite dwarf plant and is
rarely over two feet tall. Trunk size is up to a foot long with
eighteen inch leaves that are two to three inches long and serrated
along the edges and ends. It is a filtered light species with a cold
hardiness in the mid to upper twenties F. Such cold weather may
defoliate it but it usually comes back. It is an ideal yet smaller
patio plant for filtered light.
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Very old plant at nursery
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ZAMIA
FURFURACEA
THE
CARDBOARD CYCAD
This
semi-dwarf species is native to Veracruz, Mexico. It has a mature
plant height typically of three to four feet. I’ve seen a rare
“large” specimen to five feet. It suckers and tends to form a
clump of plants. In habitat, trunks can get over two feet tall.
This is rare. An eight in wide and one foot tall caudex is more
often seen. Leaves vary in length from two feet to five feet,
depending on growing conditions. Bright light or sun makes plants
smaller and more compact. Leaves are wide, rounded at the ends and
without spines. This plant can take full sun along the coast and
is cold hardy to about 23 degrees F. In filtered light the leaves
will “stretch” a bit.
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Mature specimen at nursery
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ZAMIA
INTEGRIFOLIA
This thin
leafed and small species is native to Florida, Georgia and some
Caribbean Islands. Caudexes are small, typically ten inches or
less. Leaves are composed of very narrow leaflets, dull green in
color and leaf length is 18 inches to three feet. Sun or part sun
would work for this species. Temperature tolerance uncertain but
probably into the mid-twenties F.
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ZAMIA KICKXII
This rare
dwarf species is native to Cuba. Trunks are six inches or smaller.
Leaf length is between one and two feet. The interesting thing are
the rounded, somewhat puffy leaflets. They are firm to the touch.
They are tightly stacked along the leaf stem. The leaf crown
diameter of a well grown plant may only be two feet. This species
is for bright filtered light or perhaps a bit of sun. Cold
tolerance is into the mid to upper twenties F.
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ZAMIA
NEUROPHYLLIDIA
For decades, this tropical and trunk forming species was confused with Zamia
skinneri (below).
It has habitats in Costa Rica and Panama and perhaps other Central
American countries. The hallmark of the species are green emergent
and gorgeous wide, large plicate leaflets. Trunks are narrow.
Trunks can reach overhead with six foot long leaves and ten to twelve
inch leaflets. The leaflet surfaces are grooved. This is
what we’d call a “Tropical Zamia”
in that the average grower in Southern California will have trouble with
this species. If you can pull it off, it’s a show stopper.
Filtered light is the rule. If you get very cold, this species
might be a challenge for you.
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photo c/o Wikipedia
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ZAMIA PAUCIJUGA
This dwarf species or cycad is native to western Mexico
where it lives under a Pine Tree forest type of environment. These
plants never get very large. Caudexes are limited to about five
inches and will freely form offsets. The leaflets are variable and
sometimes have small spines. Overall height of the plants is
usually about two to three feet and cones are small. Grow this
species is part day sun or filtered light. It tolerates
temperatures into the mid-twenties F. It is rare and I apologize
that, because of this, I have no pictures from gardens or the wild.
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Coning sized nursery plant
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ZAMIA
PICTA
AKA
ZAMIA VARIEGATA
THE
WORLD’S ONLY VARIEGATED CYCAD
This exotic
cycad is known as the only variegated cycad in the world. It is
native to various countries in Central America where it is found on the
rainforest floor. It is not particularly a dwarf species as it can
develop trunk height and have leaves up to three feet long or more. In
habitat, a healthy plant could be over six feet tall. Leaflets are
about four to six inches long with serrated edges. But, the
hallmark is the variegation. It has yellow splotches or streaks on
a dark green background. Leaflets come to a point. These
traits are seen well in the second picture. Note that the degree
of variegation is variable as shown. This is a filtered
light species with a cold hardiness into the mid-twenties F.
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Female plant in cone - remember, it's a dwarf
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Variegation on nursery plant leaflets |
ZAMIA PORTORICENSIS
This species is native to the Susua Forest in southern Puerto Rico.
This locality constitutes the derivation of the species name. It is a
small species with subterranean stems less than a foot in length. Its
leaves are green, three to four feet long with pointed thin leaflets.
It is fairly easy to grow in frost free areas. It can be grown in sun
or partial sun.
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Coning sized plant at nursery
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ZAMIA
PSEUDOPARASITIC
THE WORLD’S
ONLY EPIPHYTIC CYCAD BUT A DIFFICULT PLANT TO GROW HERE
A plant that
is epiphytic is supported by something else (such as a tree) but not
detrimental to that thing which supports it. Orchids and many
Bromeliads are epiphytic. This cycad species is a true epiphyte.
It lives on the limbs and in limb crotches high above your head in the
tree’s canopy. Caudexes are typically small, not over a foot.
Leaves are up to six feet. They emerge from the caudex, arch down
and hang well below the cycad’s stem. The picture shown here is
being basket grown specimen. Leaflets are long. Leaf color
is green. If grown in a container, a fast draining mix is needed.
This species does not tolerate a hard freeze and needs filtered light.
On cold winter nights, it's best to protect it.
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ZAMIA
SKINNERI
THERE ARE
GREEN AND RED EMERGENT FORMS
It might be
too scientific here to discuss the history of this gorgeous species and
how other similar looking and new species has been named. Rather,
we’ll treat all as “Zamia skinneri”. All are beautiful plants. The
most impressive specimens are found in Panama. Leaves are very
wide with groves on the dorsal surface. Emerging color can be red
(as shown) or green, depending on the variety. Leaflets exist in
the wide that are two feet long and almost a foot wide. And, total
leaf length can be eight feet with a long petiole free of leaves.
This plant is one of the most exotic and shockingly beautiful cycads in
the world. They are hard to locate and always expensive.
One needs filtered light and a frost fee area to grow it. It’s
another “Tropical Zamia”.
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This and next three photos below by R.M.
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photo from RPS Website
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ZAMIA
STANDLEYI
This
semi-dwarf cycad is native to Honduras where it lives in dry
rainforests. Leaves are three feet long or less. Leaflets
are long, have serrated edges and come to a point. Leaflet color
is green. However, some plants can have newly emerging red leaves.
This is a filtered light species that can perhaps tolerate temperatures
into the upper twenties F.
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