Native to Mozambique, this small to medium sized cycad grows in scrub forest among rocks and boulders. It is distinguished by its blue to blue-green color and by having leaflets that are prominently spiny. In my experience, leaf color is sometimes very blue, other times blue-green. You’ll sometimes hear the description as “soapy green” to describe the leaves. Overall, the leaf color is variable and I’ve shown several photos here to demonstrate this. I’ve seen specimens that are as blue as an Encephalartos horridus.
Trunk size is usually under three feet. Upright leaves are about four feet long or less. Leaves are keeled and leaflets are lanceolate and spiny. This species likes full sun and is cold tolerant into the low 20’s F. The two gallon on sale are a good, strong two gallon plant with caudexes average 2 to 3 inches. They came from parents domestically that both had extreme blue color. These can be mail ordered but not outside the U.S.
- ENCEPHALARTOS ARENARIUS – BLUE VARIETY RARE SOUTH AFRICAN CYCAD - October 12, 2024
- CYCAS GUIZHOUENSIS RARE SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED CHINESE CYCAD - October 12, 2024
- ENCEPHALARTOS ALTENSTEINII LARGER GREEN CYCAD FROM SO AFRICA - October 12, 2024