ENCEPHALARTOS LEHMANNII RARE BLUE SOUTH AFRICAN CYCAD FOR FULL COASTAL SUN OFFERING OF SIXTY YEAR OLD SPECIMEN CYCAD

A FAVORITE AMONG CYCAD ENTHUSIASTS

This is a popular blue cycad from the Eastern Cape area of South Africa. I say “popular” because some people don’t like spines and prickles. The leaflets of this species are narrow with only a point at the end. They are nothing as gnarly as E. horridus. The leaves and crown are very neat and uniform. The nearest species to this one is Encephalartos princeps. Trunks of E. lehmannii 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 180 or more 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 because they are not getting full sun and have lots of humidity. Cold hardiness is about 21 to 22 degrees F. In the desert only give it a few hours sun.

Shown below is an approximately sixty year old E. lehmannii of unknown sex. It came from a private older cycad collection. It’s in a 25 gallon container and was dug two years ago. It didn’t miss a beat after being dug and has thrown at least two new sets of leaves. The caudex is 16 inches wide and 29 to 30 inches tall. This is probably the largest of this species for sale in the Western U.S. This plant is so big and heavy that it would need professional delivery. I only have one of this size. It is shown in the first seven photos below. The last habitat photot is by M.R.