Choosing Cycads in Austin

What are Cycads?

They are living fossils, dating back 280 million to the Jurassic Period. They were one of the primary foods of the herbivorous dinosaurs. There are a lot of them at the Hartmann Prehistoric Garden at Zilker Park. They look like palms; in fact, one is even commonly called the “Sago Palm” though they are not even closely related. The fact is, they are more closely related, believe it or not, to pine trees. They are what ferns evolved into, to cope with a hotter, dryer climate. There are at least 350 known species and at least a dozen that do well in Austin, though probably more.

Do they produce flowers?

No, they make cones. The cone from the male plants make pollen, and the female cone make seed, some large and brightly colored.

Why are they becoming so popular?

Well, first of all, they are all totally Deer-Proof. Deer will not touch them. We know that the dinosaurs probably ate them, which is why, over time, they developed their toxicity It was a matter of survival! And, obviously, they were better at survival than the dinosaurs!

Secondly, they grow slowly then maintain a predictable size, which makes them very low maintenance. They tend to be drought hardy once established. They don’t drop leaves so they are great near pools. And they are non-invasive. Some do fine in sun, some do fine in shade, so there is a cycad for any place in the garden.

Types of Cycads

Cycas revoluta (Sago Palm)

zone 8 - Freely suckering to make clumps with individual trunks up to 10' in height. Striking leaves on a very architectural looking plant. Great for partial shade. Grows very slowly, though you can expect more flushes of growth with our special Cycad Fertilizer. It is a primitive, cone-bearing plant related to conifers Choice container or bonsai plant, useful for tropical look. Though tolerant house or patio plant.

Cycas panzhihuaensis

From areas on steep rocky hills, in Southern Sichuan and Yunnan Province, China where it gets hot, humid summers, followed by very cold winters, with severe frosts commonplace. Smaller, feathery, softer bluish leaves. Tough as nails.

Ceratozamia hilde

Looks similar to bamboo in growth. Super cold tolerant (ask Craig Nazor at the Zilker Dinosaur Garden about this plant, he loves it!) Partial shade growing palm that reaches up to 4 feet in height. Native to Mexico, this variety is hardy for our area. Provide good drainage. Enjoys regular feeding with our special Cycad fertilizer. Provide full sun to partial shade.

Ceratozamia kuesteriana

These plants have a beautiful brown emergent leaf. They look their best in partial shade, but can tolerate deep shade. The stems have shown to be cold hardy to 17F. They attain a six foot spread, and have a medium growth rate. Native to Mexico.

Ceratozamia latifolia

A small cycad from San Luis Potosi in eastern Mexico, where it grows in oak forests. Does best in a lightly shaded place. Great in a container, too. Hardy to 21ºF

Dioon edule

Native to northeastern Mexico, a very cold hardy cycad, zone 8B as low as 19ºF without damage. Drought tolerant. Very slow growing, but in time will form a dark trunk to 3 feet or more. Does not like soggy soils. Plant in partial sunny place with humusy and very well drained soil.

Dioon edule 'angustifolium

same as above, but probably even more cold hardy. From farther north in Mexico.

Dioon edule 'Palma Sola

This is a form of Dioon edule from Mexico which some have said may be a new subspecies. While it is in the Dioon edule "complex," Palma Sola, is faster growing and bigger. Its mature overall plant size is larger (up to 6 feet tall), the leaf width and spacing are greater (up to 3 feet long leaves), and its seed cone is said to be more sizeable. It is described as having stiff and comb-like bluish green leaves.

Encephalartos natalensis

A hardy and adaptable species that grows best in full sun. Tolerates moderate frosts.

Encephalartos lebomboensis

A medium sized to large cycad with erect trunk to 16 feet tall, growing singly or in clumps (similar to sago palm), leaf damage in the low 20's, but bud hardy.

Encephalartos longifolius

Leaves vary in color from dark green to bluish green. Young leaves are covered in fine hair but this is lost as the leaves get older. Grows to reach 3 to 5 feet in height. They prefer full sun and acidic, well drained soils. It will tolerate light frost only. Treat like a cardboard palm.

Macrozamia communis

Zone 8b-11 For its gracefulness and ease of cultivation, this species is undoubtedly the most popular in its genus. With dark green leaves making a graceful rounded crown up to 6 feet, it will grow in sun or in shady positions, and will tolerate a little frost.

Macrozamia polymorpha

Has upright, wide, flat, blunt-tipped leaflets of all green, but some variability in the leaf shape and color exists (hence polymorpha name). In a pot, with the caudex raised up a bit, it is quite an attractive plant. From New South Wales, Australia. Tolerates down to 20 degrees, so protect in winter.

Macrozamia riedlei

A medium sized Australian cycad with a thick trunk shaped like a barrel. It has attractive upright leaves, with narrowly spaced leaflets dark green in colour. Suitable for well drained sites. Will tolerate cool conditions in winter, as well as moderate frosts.

Zamia furfuracea (Cardboard Palm)

This low growing fernlike cycad never develops an aboveground trunk but will reach 4 to 5 feet in height. Needs partial protection from cold. Provide full sun to partial shade and regular watering. You made need to treat this one like a house plant on unusually cold winter nights, i.e., leave it in the pot and bring inside.

Zamia pumila (Coontie Palm)

Zone 8 -Trunkless Cycad with Fronds to 3' long. Prefers filtered sun, regular watering. Has a much softer appearance and is without the sharp edges of some of the other popular cycads. Cold hardy.