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Products > Plants - Browse Alphabetically > Encephalartos natalensis
 
Encephalartos natalensis - Natal Giant Cycad
   
Image of Encephalartos natalensis
[2nd Image]
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Cycad
Family: Cycadaceae (Cycads)
Origin: South Africa (Africa)
Evergreen: Yes
Flower Color: NA
Bloomtime: Infrequent
Height: 15-20 feet
Width: Clumping
Exposure: Full Sun
Summer Dry: Yes
Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F
Encephalartos natalensis (Natal Giant Cycad) - This tall cycad can have stems of up to 6 m by 40 cm across. It is usually solitary, but can grow in clumps of up to 11 stems. Cones are yellow with red seeds, female plants have 3-4 cones per stem, males have slightly smaller cones with 4-5 on each stem. Young leaves have white silky hairs and mature into large 1-3M x 30-40 cm glossy green leaves. No other Encephalartos has such a wide variation in foliage and cone sizes - at least seven forms can be distinguished. It takes full sun, has low water needs, and is hardy to about 25 degrees F. 

The information about Encephalartos natalensis that is displayed on this web page is based on research conducted in our nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We will also include observations made about this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We also incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they share cultural information that aids others growing this plant.

 
San Marcos Growers, established in 1979, will close at the end of 2025 so that the property can be developed for affordable housing.
 
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