MACROZAMIA MOOREI LARGER COLD HARDY CYCAD

A CYCAD THAT EVENTUALLY LOOKS LIKE A PALM TREE

This larger cycad is native to Queensland, Australia. Over many decades, it establishes a thick trunk and can get ten to twenty feet tall. At this size the truly resemble a palm tree, both in crown size and trunk size. It is recognizable because of its long, curved and keeled leaves (V shaped in cross section). Other species like M. johnsoni and communis have much flatter leaves. It is very cold hardy for a cycad and can easily grow outdoors in many areas of the SF Bay Area. Some report that it tolerates low temperatures into the upper teens F.

The 24 inch boxed specimens shown below were imported into the U.S. about 25 years ago by a private individual – all legally with CITES permits. They were about 25 years old back then. Caudexes are fat and some have stem heights of two feet. Of note, this species is slow to put on trunk height.