Encephalartos whitelockii

[Kailua_Krish]

Hey guys,

So Im still really clueless about cycads but I have always really liked Encephalartos whitelockii and since I have seen them for sale lately I was wondering if these did well in Central Florida. From what I have seen it says foliage is ok down to about 24 degrees and we rarely have that where I live and they are so cool because of the size. If anyone has some comments or suggestions about this plant please let me know as Im thinking about gifting this to myself gor Christmas!

[cycadjungle]

If someone were to ask me if they should be growing E. whitelockii in Ocala, I would say no. If you swear that it will never get below 22F in your particular location, then I would say it is worth a try if you put it under a big oak tree. I have about 9 of them under my big oak tree in the front of my place, and if they are tucked way under the tree, close to the stem, then they hold up very well. At that location, I had no leaf damage at 23F and maybe 10% at the most at 21F, which I have had the last couple of seasons. If the plants are under the canopy, but on the edge, then I get 30% leaf damage at 23F and complete leaf burn at 21F. If you really had to have one and every 10 to 15 years, you get something below 20F, (like 17F during an 89' type freeze) you can always cut the leaves off and cover the stem and your plant will live and come back nicely with probably two flushes the next season. So, this is not going to be a very cold hardy cycad, but if you really want one and can deal with the occational problem, I'd say go with it. It sounds like that I am colder than you, even though you are north of me, but still for me, I plan to put out whitelockiis, ituriensis, and laurentianus out under the trees, knowing that every once in a while, I may have to do some extra work.

[virtualpalm]

I can't help but say that the title of this thread is quite misleading. My initial reaction was: "Of course E. whitelockii will grow in Florida! Just see for yourself:"

This juvenile plant is growing quite well in my yard in Miami

As for growing this species in central Florida, I would not even hazard a guess. Tom Broome is the king of cold tolerance in cycads, and since he has already responded, I am quite happy to defer to him on this one.

Jody

[ghar41]

I'm finding that cycads have an amazing cold/freeze tolerance here for me in USDA 9b. I had two leaf Encephalartos seedlings in my front yard that defoliated in the January 07 freeze (teens?) that grew new flushes the following Spring.

The problem I have had with some cycads is their sensitivity to cold, wet soil. The cycad survives, but grows slowly, and doesn't flush every year. When I dig them up the deep roots are mushy, rotten, dead.

Ive had the best success growing the plants up or in a raised bed while making sure its recieving winter sun and whatever warmth it can provide. I have an E. whitelockii seedling that I plan on planting in this manner.

[Kailua_Krish]

Sorry if the title was misleading but North Central Florida is still Florida:-D It really doesn't get that cold where I live at all (it used to) because it has become extremely built up around the neighborhood (especially north of me) and it seems like it keeps it quite a bit warmer at my house. I was planning on putting it in a really sandy soil that has had some amendments added to it. If it does get below 20 I am screwed out of almost the entire yard as many of the things that have become the backbone of the yard will melt, but I guess if/when that happens it will be fun to start over and if all I had to do was wrap the trunk and cut off the leaves it wouldn't be too much of a problem. I guess I was more worried about the humidity as I was under the impression that Encephalartos hate humidity. Thanks for all the info so far though and the specimen in the photo looks spectacular.

Krishna

[aussiearoids]

Not all Encephalartos come from dry areas .. here is a whitelockii powering away in the wet tropics .

Do not know exactly how long its been there , but its grown like the clappers .

Those little broms in the front are 1m tall Aechmea blanchetianas .

Its gotta have 4m fronds at least , and the poor lonely girl is getting some prospective mates soon .

[virtualpalm]

  krishnaraoji88 said:

Sorry if the title was misleading but North Central Florida is still Florida:-D It really doesn't get that cold where I live at all (it used to) because it has become extremely built up around the neighborhood (especially north of me) and it seems like it keeps it quite a bit warmer at my house. I was planning on putting it in a really sandy soil that has had some amendments added to it. If it does get below 20 I am screwed out of almost the entire yard as many of the things that have become the backbone of the yard will melt, but I guess if/when that happens it will be fun to start over and if all I had to do was wrap the trunk and cut off the leaves it wouldn't be too much of a problem. I guess I was more worried about the humidity as I was under the impression that Encephalartos hate humidity. Thanks for all the info so far though and the specimen in the photo looks spectacular.

Krishna

As I said in my first response, I cannot speak about cold tolerance. Many of the Central African cycads grow in humid, tropical areas; E. whitelockii is from the extremely wet, tropical Mpanga Gorge in Uganda.

Jody

[edbrown_III]

These might be plants that you could grow up against your house and cover with a tarp if it got below 25F. I have a E. hildebrandi that is starting to get some trunk after many years. The problem is getting leaves though a few winters as if you have to defoliate to wrap you lose so much energy reserves.

I visited Bane Cheek a long time ago and I saw his cycad collection. He had some Central african species I think one was E. poggei that he had protectedduring one of those extreme freezes . I believe it experience 18F which is possilble here in North FL... You plant them under trees you get frost protection but dont get the amount of heat for them to grow fast so they grow slow. Like Tom this is what I am doing with a number of species.

You wind up trying to make the most of the garden habitat that you are dealt ... I will retire in the tropics sooner or later .

Best regards,

Ed