Cycad cones and flushes

[Silas_Sancona]

If someone tells another    ....." Large Sago won't grow in the desert "   ..Laugh at them, loudly..



There's another specimen of nearly equal size on the opposite side of this home owner's driveway i couldn't grab a shot of while passing by too. 

[Merlyn]

Here's an almost ready male Cycas Multipinnata cone, one of many things that are going crazy this time of year!

[Tracy]

On 5/5/2025 at 12:07 PM, Tracy said:

Since I saw 10 simultaneous pups around the base of this Cycas thouarsii x cupida about to flush, as well as the main caudex, I decided it was time for a haircut.  The pups will have maximum space for their flushes to emerge now.

Despite my trimming I didn't defeat a tangled flush.  Ironically, the tangle is in the main caudex flushing on my Cycas thouarsii × cupida.  The trimming probably did help the flushes on all the pups though.

[Billeb]

48 minutes ago, Tracy said:

Despite my trimming I didn't defeat a tangled flush.  Ironically, the tangle is in the main caudex flushing on my Cycas thouarsii × cupida.  The trimming probably did help the flushes on all the pups though.

@Tracy, at my old house I had a Revoluta that was consistently pushing tangled mess of fronds and I was told it had bugs. I cannot recall what I sprayed on it but in 2 flushes, it started normalcy again. Not sure the back story or if you think that could be a possibility but thought I’d throw it out there. Love how the pups are all cleaned up at the base by the way. Looking good. 
 

-dale 

[Tracy]

10 hours ago, Billeb said:

@Tracy, at my old house I had a Revoluta that was consistently pushing tangled mess of fronds and I was told it had bugs. I cannot recall what I sprayed on it but in 2 flushes, it started normalcy again. Not sure the back story or if you think that could be a possibility but thought I’d throw it out there. Love how the pups are all cleaned up at the base by the way. Looking good. 
 

-dale 

Interesting Dale.  While I see no signs og any bugs, I will watch for anything I may have initially missed.  I am hoping and expecting it will just push through and those twisting leaves will straighten as the flush pushes. 

I have had some other Cycas thouarsii push a few leaves in a flush that didn't open normally over the years, particularly on females that are concurrently pushing megasporophylls.

[Merlyn]

Here's a neat sea-foam-green flush on my Dioon Spinulosum triple planting...all three at once!  The bottom left is nearly done, top center about halfway grown out, and bottom right is just starting to fill out the leaves:

[Merlyn]

I moved this big Encephalartos Kisambo around Thanksgiving last year, and it's decided to put out a good 13 or 14 leaf flush.  Once it's done I can cut off all the 1/2-length fronds left over from the move!

And this fasciated/mutant Zamia Furfuracea is midway through a nice flush:

[Brian]

It took awhile for this Microcycas calocoma to finally flush but it was well worth the wait. Hopefully it hardens off before it rains.

 

[amh]

On 5/27/2025 at 1:52 PM, Merlyn said:

Here's a neat sea-foam-green flush on my Dioon Spinulosum triple planting...all three at once!  The bottom left is nearly done, top center about halfway grown out, and bottom right is just starting to fill out the leaves:

I wish these were cold hardy, mine are tiny, but D. Spinulosum is already a favorite of mine.

[Merlyn]

@amh Spinulosum are tougher than some people say.  Initially I read about 28F minimum, but in my experience that's roughly the "first frond damage temp" and not the "dead" temperature.  My biggest one has about 3 or so feet of trunk, and took some serious leaf burn at 24.4F with frost, out in full sun with zero canopy.  But it flushed out fine a couple of months later.  I doubt it is 8A by any stretch, but I'd guess 9A is survivable for short duration freezes...with a mature plant.

[Gallop]

[Zone7Bpalmguy]

Here's a couple of mine. They get some protection in the winter with a blanket and a tarp.

 

[Zone7Bpalmguy]

[amh]

22 hours ago, Merlyn said:

@amh Spinulosum are tougher than some people say.  Initially I read about 28F minimum, but in my experience that's roughly the "first frond damage temp" and not the "dead" temperature.  My biggest one has about 3 or so feet of trunk, and took some serious leaf burn at 24.4F with frost, out in full sun with zero canopy.  But it flushed out fine a couple of months later.  I doubt it is 8A by any stretch, but I'd guess 9A is survivable for short duration freezes...with a mature plant.

8A is a big stretch, especially because the ground freezes.  I'm stuck with growing Dioon spinulosum in pots, but thankfully, they are slow enough growing that the plants will fit inside my house for the next decade or so.

[TropicsEnjoyer]

On 5/31/2025 at 8:00 PM, Merlyn said:

And this fasciated/mutant Zamia Furfuracea is midway through a nice flush:

I actually really like the look of solitary Z. furfuracea. 

Also regarding a later topic, I think D. spinulosum are at least 9b hardy

[JohnAndSancho]

I am definitely not worthy of this thread, but here's what I got. Revoluta x Diannanesis from Gator Ventures Scott. Bought as a liner I dunno, almost a year ago. 

 

[Tracy]

On 5/5/2025 at 3:15 PM, Tracy said:

My largest Encephalartos princeps is flushing again this year too.  I thought it might be getting close to coning size, but clearly not yet.  That is ok, patience.  I don't want it to cone and then after exerting all that energy, skip a year on flushing.

About a month later and the flush is almost full size but has not hardened off or set it's full blue color yet.  

[Brian]

Two very different E. Ferox flushing at the same time.

 

[Tracy]

6 hours ago, Brian said:

Two very different E. Ferox flushing at the same time.

 

Is the first photo the variation referred to ss a cigar leaf?

[Brian]

56 minutes ago, Tracy said:

Is the first photo the variation referred to ss a cigar leaf?

Yes.

[Billeb]

My Encephalartos Arenarius Blue has flushed twice a year for the last 3 so it’s a happy plant. It regularly pushes 6-8 leaves every flush. It’s very hard to see but this particular Arenarius has super fat leaflets as compared to others I’ve seen. When it hardens off and gets its blue color, it’s very unique. 
 

-dale 

[Billeb]

Took a picture of a leaflet today. I’ve got two other Arenarius (Green and True Blue) and neither have leaflets so fat. Weird…

 

-dale 

 

[apriliarider15]

First cone from my Bowenia serrulata 

[Brian]

I have two Encephalartos arenarius, one is greenish and the other blue. The blue one germinated with two main roots and two different growing points for the first emerging leafs, so it’s always had twin caudex. They always seem to flush one after the other. Here is one caudex currently flushing. 
 

[Tracy]

While I got this as an Encephalartos "blue form" arenarius x ,, I'm certain the original id was wrong.  I came to the conclusion that it looks much more like Encephalartos horridus.  The potted photo was in 2015 flushing and now it has a total of 6 growth points, 3 are substantially larger than the others with about 11 new leaves flushing on each of two of the larger growth points and at 2 - 4 leaves on the smaller caudices that are flushing.  It gets a bit tangled, so I removed old leaves to allow space for the new flushes to push up without getting overly tangled.

[Billeb]

1 hour ago, Tracy said:

While I got this as an Encephalartos "blue form" arenarius x ,, I'm certain the original id was wrong.  I came to the conclusion that it looks much more like Encephalartos horridus.  The potted photo was in 2015 flushing and now it has a total of 6 growth points, 3 are substantially larger than the others with about 11 new leaves flushing on each of two of the larger growth points and at 2 - 4 leaves on the smaller caudices that are flushing.  It gets a bit tangled, so I removed old leaves to allow space for the new flushes to push up without getting overly tangled.

Agreed on your ID @Tracy . I see a lot of people keep their Horridus full and don’t cut off the lower fronds. I like how it’s more vertical and cleaned up. Looks like it’s been a good grower for you. Bonus…

 

-dale 

[Tracy]

1 hour ago, Billeb said:

Agreed on your ID @Tracy . I see a lot of people keep their Horridus full and don’t cut off the lower fronds. I like how it’s more vertical and cleaned up. Looks like it’s been a good grower for you. Bonus…

 

-dale 

Dale, I wasn't thrilled that it has 6 growing points. I have a larger, older solitary female Encephalartos horridus that I don't prune back like this, because it isn't necessary.  The multiple caudices just makes for a real tangle.  I should probably try removing a couple of pups off this one eventually, so it can focus on the main growth points.  I know it will continue sprouting new offsets, but at least they will be smaller.

[edbrown_III]

Stangeria eriopus flushing here in Jacksonville 

[edbrown_III]

16 minutes ago, edbrown_III said:

Stangeria eriopus flushing here in Jacksonville 

 

[GeneAZ]

On 6/11/2025 at 5:20 PM, Tracy said:

Dale, I wasn't thrilled that it has 6 growing points. I have a larger, older solitary female Encephalartos horridus that I don't prune back like this, because it isn't necessary.  The multiple caudices just makes for a real tangle.  I should probably try removing a couple of pups off this one eventually, so it can focus on the main growth points.  I know it will continue sprouting new offsets, but at least they will be smaller.

I also have a profusely offsetting horridus of a giant neon blue form.  I really struggled on whether to keep the offsets sliced off or allowed to form the inner-tube effect around the base.  Well, I decided to leave them all on, rather than looking at the unsightly scarring on the caudex.

As it turns out,  the whole specimen has become more and more branching up and down the trunk, so this is its genetic habit which I will just let continue to express itself.

Even the Durban original woodiis have deformed trunks from their transplanting event, yet with full canopies they're beautiful!

[Tracy]

11 hours ago, GeneAZ said:

I also have a profusely offsetting horridus of a giant neon blue form.  I really struggled on whether to keep the offsets sliced off or allowed to form the inner-tube effect around the base.  Well, I decided to leave them all on, rather than looking at the unsightly scarring on the caudex.

As it turns out,  the whole specimen has become more and more branching up and down the trunk, so this is its genetic habit which I will just let continue to express itself.

Even the Durban original woodiis have deformed trunks from their transplanting event, yet with full canopies they're beautiful!

Gene, it sounds like the E horridus you are describing has branching pups coming off the caudex above the soil line.  The specimen above that I posted has all it's growth points subterranean.  Removing a couple of the subterranean pups doesn't risk the scarring you mention.  I have definitely followed your course of action on the pups that form above the soil line and just leave them.  They end up being more branches given enough time on some species.

Please do share photos of your neon blue form of Encephalartos horridus.  It is always fun to see how different specimens within the same species can vary.

[Billeb]

9 hours ago, Tracy said:

…..It is always fun to see how different specimens within the same species can vary.

Tracy, although not currently flushing, your inquiry about different specimens made me think about my Encephalartos Horridus “Special” I got from Kevin. I asked him what the backstory was about the “Special” tag. He stated the seed was from a different batch and different grower than his normal source. The parent plants had very recurved leaves and significant stacking than typical Horridus. 
The plant is very young at this point but the anticipation is killing me. Crossing fingers. 
 

-dale 

[Tracy]

On 6/17/2025 at 6:07 PM, Billeb said:

Tracy, although not currently flushing, your inquiry about different specimens made me think about my Encephalartos Horridus “Special” I got from Kevin. I asked him what the backstory was about the “Special” tag. He stated the seed was from a different batch and different grower than his normal source. The parent plants had very recurved leaves and significant stacking than typical Horridus. 
The plant is very young at this point but the anticipation is killing me. Crossing fingers. 
 

-dale 

These leaflets are still hardening off, so don't have their full blue color yet.  Same Encephalartos horridus as I shared above, but similarly recurved leaves as your plant Dale.  There is still one caudex in this clump that hasn't flushed, which makes me wonder if it is going to cone instead as it is the largest caudices it has.

[Urban Rainforest]

Encephalartos Arenarius x Latifrons throwing a nice flush. All 3 of mine flushed at the same time.

[Tracy]

20 hours ago, Urban Rainforest said:

Encephalartos Arenarius x Latifrons

That is a great looking cycad, which also makes a positive argument for hybrids in garden settings.  Since we aren't in South Africa, where the pollinators for Encephalartos exist, we don't have to worry about accidentally polluting the gene pool.  Meanwhile, I'm guessing you have experienced faster growth with this hybrid than with a pure Encephalartos latifrons, which is a spectacular looking cycad.

My sibling Encephalartos (arenarius x latifrons) x latifrons are often a little off in their flush timing.  I did get one as the "pick of the litter' and the other was the runt of the same litter though.  Growth has been a little different, but still much faster than with a pure Encephalartos latifrons .  The runt appears to be getting brown leaves on it's oldest flush, which is different than the more vigorous specimen which holds about 2 old flushes when it is pushing  a new one.  The leaflets are still a brighter green and haven't hardened off yet on this flush. 

[Urban Rainforest]

Thanks Tracy and your plant looks amazing! If you had not told me it was a hybrid I would have thought straight Trapps valley Latifrons! Def no hybrid hater here. I prob have almost as many hybrids as I do species! For me it just keeps things interesting and some of the hybrids get the best of both worlds!

[Urban Rainforest]

Your right about the speed of growth too. These are some of my best growers! I harvested a softball size pup off the plant in the photo 2 years ago and it has another pup on it too. All three flushed same time probably because they share the same genetic code.

[TropicsEnjoyer]

Are there any indicators besides the center that a cone is coming on a sago soon? I heard somewhere that as the leaflets become more recurved it signals closer to maturity and coning, but is there any truth to this? I’m just wondering how big and thick my sago will have to be before it cones. 

[Palmzilla]

Arenarius x latifrons log jam 

 

[Urban Rainforest]

Hey Braden! What up brotha? For some reason I cant see the pic you posted🤔 The pic I posted is the plant I got from you many many moons ago! Been a good grower for sure. Thanks again!

Stevo