BEST CYCADS TO GROW

CYCADS FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

INTRODUCTION 

This is a presentation of many of the totally different types of rare cycads that will perform well in most gardens.  We've particularly listed species for Southern California gardens.  It is not meant to be an all-inclusive presentation but rather a good assortment of species for the enthusiast to try.  As there are nearly three to four hundred different species of cycads, all species cannot be shown in this series.  Some don't grow well here.  So, I've selected some of our favorites for our locality.  I've included pictures of plants from their habitats where possible but also from botanical gardens and private homes.  I'll include some photographs of leaves as well as occasional pictures of plants from our nursery to show you something one could purchase.  On the latter I'll show larger plants when possible, but realize that we probably have smaller plants available as well. 

If you live far inland or in a California desert area, many of these species may do well for you.  But, you must alter the plant exposure to your hotter sun.  This would apply to inland areas such as Palm Springs or Borrego.      

When reading this series, pay special attention to the mature plant size, the overall appearance, sun requirements and cold tolerances.  Decide if you like it and if you have room in your garden.  Also, can you give it the conditions it needs?  Almost all of these plants can be used in areas outside of Southern California.  This would include southern parts of Texas, a good part of the lower Gulf States including Florida and some areas of Central and northern California.  In desert areas like Palm Springs or Phoenix, many of these will do fine but will need lesser sun exposure. 

Finally, cycads are water conserving plants.  As you'll see below, one can have that "tropical look" without using a lot of water.  Cycads are ideal plants for upscale landscape projects where conserving water resources is important.  The photographs below are mostly our stock cycad photos although some are from Internet websites with credit given.  In terms of presentation and order, I will do it by genera and alphabetically.  I'll include descriptive and cultural information as well.

Jungle Music Palms and Cycads
619 291 4605
Nursery: 450 Ocean View Ave, Encinitas, CA 92024

CERATOZAMIA

Ceratozamia are New World cycads.  Most are from Mexico or Central America.  In habitat, they are often found in forest areas and under other trees.  So, the general rule is that many like filtered light.  However, on the coast in CA, some take full sun.  Sizes of Ceratozamia range from dwarf to medium.  A few species are taller with overhead leaves.  All have spines on their leaf stems.  Leaflets can be soft to the touch while a few are sharp.  Growth rate is medium.  Most species tolerate temperatures in the lower 20's F.  There are many other very rare species not shown below.

A nice nursery plant to start in garden
 

 
Nursery specimen

more of a red emergent form

A coning sized nursery specimen, 20 yrs. old

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.

15 gallon nursery plant

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.

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. 

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.   

CYCAS         

Cycas is a genus of Old World plants native to areas stretching from China southwards through Asia, into Australia, surrounding areas and west over to Africa.  There’s even one native to Madagascar.  In general plants are larger than the Ceratozamia in the last section.  There are over one hundred species in this genus.  The common Sago Palm, Cycas revoluta, is a member of this group of cycads.  Most species have a cylindrical trunk with leaves emerging from the top.  These trunks can sucker from the base or even fork overhead.  Most are green in color although there are some difficult to grow blue species.  There’s even some species (see below) that are quite different and have branching leaves, much like the Fishtail Palms.  As a group, Cycas are fast growing compared to other genera.  There are some dwarf species.  But, expect a height of at least six feet or more on most species with some even having eventual heights of over twenty feet.    

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. 

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.  

Large specimen at nursery that is probably a
Cycas rumphii.  (see text)

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. 

photo by Rare  Palm Seeds

A nice nursery plant

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.

Gorgeous plant at nursery

Another very old nursery plant

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.

 
A good starter size for the garden

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.

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.

Very old nursery specimen

DIOONS

Dioons are a New World cycad native to Mexico and Central America.  In their native habitats they see anywhere from hot and dry desert habitats to lush tropical rain forests.  So, it is a very diverse group of plants in terms of appearance and cultural needs.  Most species prefer full sun but there are some that do best in filtered light.  Sizes in general are medium.  But there are some smaller plants as well.  All species have cylindrical stems (caudexes) with various colors of leaves from the usual green to one with blue leaves.  Interestingly, one of the most cold hardy species (Dioon edule) is in this group.  Dioon edule is also one of the few cycads that can tolerate blistering hot desert sun.  As a group they are very appealing, not overwhelming in size and easy to grow.   

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.

 
This and last plant are nice nursery specimens

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.

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. 
   

 
Very old nursery specimen, coning size
 

Another older nursery plant

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.
 

In habitat by JO

In habitat by JO

 
Twenty year old nursery plant

 
Monster clustering nursery specimen

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.

Photo c/o TS at RPS

DIOON MEJIAE 

This is a much more tropical appearing species of Dioon and is native to Central America in Nicaragua and Honduras.  There it is found among thick deciduous forests.   Leaves are long, green and arch minimally.  In cross section the leaves are flat.  They are similar to the lush leaves of Dioon spinulosum but typically, on mature plants, lack any spines on the leaflets.  Trunks ten to be somewhat narrow, under twelve inches.  But, a mature plant in habitat can reach heights of over 20 feet in a century or two.  An attractive thing about this species are the super soft, wooly and yet fragile new leaves as they emerge.  See last photo.  One is so tempted to feel them.  Leaf color is green with a length of about six feet.  This is a super attractive plant for morning sun or strong filtered light.  Cold hardiness is into the low 20's F. 

 
plant with blue colored leaves

 
Nursery boxed specimen

New super soft leaves emerging on nursery plant

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.
 

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.

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.

 
photo by JS

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.
 

 
Very old nursery specimen

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. 

ENCEPHALARTOS

AFRICAN CYCADS

The genus of cycads from Africa known as Encephalartos are by far the most popular cycads among enthusiasts and account for more than fifty per cent of the cycads sold by our nursery.  Native habitats spread from northern Africa down to the most southern regions of the Republic of South Africa.  Individual plants within this genus can be wildly different, not only in appearance, but also in overall size, leaf shape and color and growth requirements.  There are somewhere between seventy-five to one hundred different species or varieties.  And, within any given species, there may be multiple forms.  Whole books have been dedicated to this genus.  

The great thing about Encephalartos for those of us in Southern California is that they love our growing conditions, though there are few species that don't thrive here.  Generally Encephalartos like heat, and drier conditions and good draining soil.  Most are quite cold hardy and don't see threatening weather here that could jeopardize their health.  So, it's a great genus to study and pick from for the garden.  And, one bonus is that they are extremely drought tolerant and a way to save water and still have the garden look great.  There is a plant for everyone.  As there are so many species, I can only deal with part of them and not show too many pictures of each.  But at least you'll get a taste for these great 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.

photo by Wayne Atkinson Arkive

 
photo by Botany.cs internet site

Nursery specimen in a box
 

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.

 
older plant at nursery

 
Another old nursery plant

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.  
                       

In habitat by R. Smitt, PACOA

 
Plant at nursery

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. 

An affordable nursery plant

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.

Photo by PH PACSOA

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.

 
A nice nursery plant

Another nursery plant
 

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.

 
female cone, photo by Cycad Society webpage

 
male cones

 
Crown of leaves, nursery plant

Nice wide leaves on nursery plant

 
Specimen at nursery

 
This and the next are great boxed specimens

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.

Plant with new flush of leaves
 

 
Nursery specimen

A more affordable 15g size

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.

 
Another very large nursery specimen

Another dwarf form of E. horridus

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.

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. 

 
A small plant at the nursery

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.

 
An eight year old plant at the nursery
 

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. 

  
Plant at nursery

 
A boxed specimen at nursery

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.

 
Specimen at nursery

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.

 
Specimen at nursery

ENCEPHALARTOS UMBELUZIENSIS

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.

 
Specimen at nursery

Another nursery plant, coning sized in full sun
 

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.
 

LEPIDOZAMIA PEROFFSKYANA

I often tell customers that this is the most “user friendly” cycad that there is.  I say this because this plant has absolutely no armor or spines – anywhere. You can kiss the leaves.  Native to Australia, it lives in habitats stretching from northern New South Whales into Queensland. It is named after a Russian nobleman.   In habitat, a centuries old plant could be up to about eighteen feet tall.  It could hold forty to fifty leaves, each six to eight feet long.  The leaflets are long and narrow, shiny green in color and soft to the touch.  This species will take full sun right on the coast but tolerates part sun or strong filtered light.  Cold hardiness is down to the low 20’s F.  Just give it plenty of room to grow!
 

Throw of leaves on older plant
 

MACROZAMIA 

All Macrozamias are native to eastern Australia in Queensland or New South Whales.  There are about 40 species known to exist.  Several are larger, easy to grow species.  These are the ones we'll concentrate on here.  There are also rare, difficult to find and smaller species that are seldom seen.  I'll not be presenting these presently.  As a group, the ones shown below are medium to larger species that like full and hot sun.  Cold hardiness is excellent.

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.

Photo by Thompson & Kennedy, PACSOA 

Specimen at nursery
 

 
Female cone on nursery specimen

A more affordable 15g plant

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.

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.

Specimen at nursery

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.  

STANGERIA

Stangeria is a monotypic genus.  There is only one species.  This cycad seems to resemble more a fern than any of the other cycads shown in this series.   You can read about it below.  They are native to South Africa.

STANGERIA ERIOPUS

CUTE AND SMALL, SUN OR FILTERED LIGHT 

Stangeria eriopus is the only species in this genus and is native to forests in South Africa.  The leaves more resemble a fern than a typical cycad.  It is most closely related to another cycad which branches, Bowenia, from Australia.  It is often described as having two forms: the grassland and the mountain form.  What I’ve found culturally with one batch of seeds is that there seems to be more variation plant to plant than from “variety to variety”. 

Leaves are typically under three feet long but have been reported to get over five feet.  Leaflets are rounded at the end, sometimes have serrations and are soft to the touch.  I’ve not seen leaves much over three to four feet long.  Caudexes are small as well.  An eight inch caudex would be large.  They can cone when the caudex is four inches.  They like filtered light or part day sun right on the coast.  We’d found they tolerate temperatures of 24 to 25 degrees F. with no problem.  They are a very cute and small plant.
 

Female cone on nursery plant

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.

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.
 

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.

 
Mature specimen at nursery

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.

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.

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.
 

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.
 

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.

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”.
 

This and next three photos below by R.M.

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.