Cycad cones and flushes

[Billeb]

20 minutes ago, Urban Rainforest said:

Fat Arenarius x Arenarius x Woodii.

Yeah, that’s killer Steve. 🤙🏻
 

-dale 

[Urban Rainforest]

31 minutes ago, Billeb said:

Yeah, that’s killer Steve. 🤙🏻
 

-dale 

Thanks Dale! I bought 4 differant Woodii hybrids 2 years ago as 1 leaf seedlings. This one is growing so fast I might be able to pot it up into a 15 gal. By next year.

[JohnAndSancho]

I guess this is as good of a place as any to ask, but is it normal for hybrid cycads to just push one frond at a time while they're young? 

I can't get the whole thing in one picture without moving stuff around, but it's probably 2 feet right now and still pushing. 

[Tracy]

7 hours ago, JohnAndSancho said:

I guess this is as good of a place as any to ask, but is it normal for hybrid cycads to just push one frond at a time while they're young? 

I can't get the whole thing in one picture without moving stuff around, but it's probably 2 feet right now and still pushing. 

It isn't just hybrids that may push single leaves sequentially,  it is all young cycads.  In my experience this is across genra.   As they mature they progressively increase to their mature count leaf pushes for the species.   Some species may max at that 1 or 2 leaf per flush while other species push a couple of dozen or more per flush when mature. 

[Billeb]

7 hours ago, JohnAndSancho said:

I guess this is as good of a place as any to ask, but is it normal for hybrid cycads to just push one frond at a time while they're young? 

I can't get the whole thing in one picture without moving stuff around, but it's probably 2 feet right now and still pushing. 

Indeed. Every plant is different. Even when you have sister plants of the same genus the same age, growing next to each other in the same medium, with the same sun exposure and water. One will flush 3 leafs, the other will push 5. No logic. 
 

Young plants do typically push a single leaf. Sometimes another will come right after, sometimes not. Eventually it will start to push multiples when it’s content. Nothing you can do to expedite the process. Just enjoy  the look of the plant and be happy it’s growing. It’s slow but worth it. 
 

-dale 

[JohnAndSancho]

2 hours ago, Tracy said:

It isn't just hybrids that may push single leaves sequentially,  it is all young cycads.  In my experience this is across genra.   As they mature they progressively increase to their mature count leaf pushes for the species.   Some species may max at that 1 or 2 leaf per flush while other species push a couple of dozen or more per flush when mature. 

 

2 hours ago, Billeb said:

Indeed. Every plant is different. Even when you have sister plants of the same genus the same age, growing next to each other in the same medium, with the same sun exposure and water. One will flush 3 leafs, the other will push 5. No logic. 
 

Young plants do typically push a single leaf. Sometimes another will come right after, sometimes not. Eventually it will start to push multiples when it’s content. Nothing you can do to expedite the process. Just enjoy  the look of the plant and be happy it’s growing. It’s slow but worth it. 
 

-dale 

Oh absolutely. I love it, and the new fronds shoot up FAST. This popped up over the course of 2 days. I wish some of my palms would throw up new foliage this fast 😂 thanks y'all. 

[Peter]

Enc ferox

[Tracy]

On 7/18/2025 at 6:36 PM, Tracy said:

This Encephalartos arenarius is pushing out it's first cone.  I always try to be patient for it to get further out before jumping to any conclusions on sex, but sm happy to entertain others initial opinions. 

Updated photo of the cone.

[Urban Rainforest]

Im really liking the Woodii hybrids! I have four differant ones and 3 of them are flushing right now. Each one has its own characteristics. This one is Hor Wood x Are Wood. The Horridus is really coming through with the recurved leaves and a hint of blue. I hope it gets bluer as it matures.

[Urban Rainforest]

Ive allready posted the fat are x are wood and I also have a nat wood x are wood that is not flushing now. This one is straight are wood x are wood. It is throwing its first 2 leaf flush.

[Billeb]

On 7/3/2025 at 5:58 PM, Billeb said:

Here’s my Dioon Oaxacensis (formerly “El Cameron”)

Previous post about my Dioon Oaxacensis was last month. Couple pics of during the flush and complete. 20 frond flush on this guy so it’s happy it seems 🤙🏻
 

-dale 

 

 

 

[Urban Rainforest]

That Dioon Oaxacensis looks awesome Dale! My understanding is “cameron” is a location. I have an Agave “Cameron blue” from that same area. That last pic looks epic🤙

[Tracy]

The Encephalartos arenarius flush is getting ready to harden.  I love the long leaflets on this specimen.   Meanwhile an Encephalartos sclovoi is beginning to push a colorful flush and I will soon have Encephalartos turner pollen.  The Encephalartos eugene-maraisii female cones are getting plump but still not receptive. 

[Urban Rainforest]

That Eugene is a nice one! Definately bluer than the ones I have.

[Urban Rainforest]

I knew when I saw my biggest Eugene Maraisii starting to flush it was gonna be a big one but I had no idea it would be this big😳Probably making up for lost time as it did not flush last year. Here is a flush progression.

[Urban Rainforest]

[Urban Rainforest]

[Urban Rainforest]

[Urban Rainforest]

Finally starting to turn green.

[Urban Rainforest]

As you can see sometime after the first pic I cut off the old leaves. Because all the potted Cycads are packed in there so tight I cut them off to make room for the new. In the past if these plants throw a crooked leaf it hardens off and stays that way.

[Billeb]

31 minutes ago, Urban Rainforest said:

As you can see sometime after the first pic I cut off the old leaves. Because all the potted Cycads are packed in there so tight I cut them off to make room for the new. In the past if these plants throw a crooked leaf it hardens off and stays that way.

I was going to mention something about the leaf shape. Definitely looks “messy” as compared to other Eugene’s I’ve seen. That is a big flush tho. 👍🏻

-dale 

[Urban Rainforest]

Yeah it definately came out kinda crazy but it is starting to normalize now. Im just hoping that the other 4 I have throw this year. It has been a much cooler summer here where I live a couple miles east of mission bay San Diego and Im starting to think alot of my plants may not flush this year🤔

[Billeb]

Here’s my small Enc. Middelburgensis. This plant was down to a single leaf and on its death bed 2yrs ago. Yanked it out, moved it over a bit, planted it again using a different medium and forgot about it. Personally, Middelburgensis is a top 3 Cycad for me so I really wanted it to live and thrive. 

Later that same year I saw growth and was super happy!! Fast forward to early June 2025, this guy flushed a 2 leafer and I thought it was done. Last week I saw growth again! Looks like it’s pushing a single. Fair to say the plant seems happy and I can’t wait what it will look like in 5yrs+.
 

-dale  

 

[Urban Rainforest]

Thats awesome you were able to save it Dale! Middelburgensis is one of my favs as well. I have one about the size of yours in a citrus tall container. The tag said Oliphant river var.

[JohnAndSancho]

Check out the bends on this last frond/flush. It's like it starts to bend towards the light then it bends away then it bends back towards me then goes up. I love crazy stuff like this. 

 

[Billeb]

4 hours ago, Urban Rainforest said:

Thats awesome you were able to save it Dale! Middelburgensis is one of my favs as well. I have one about the size of yours in a citrus tall container. The tag said Oliphant river var.

Yup. Mine is from Kevin and the tag says Middelburgensis Olifants. I’ve never asked Kevin about it and I’m not sure it’s a special  variety of Middelburgensis or simply stating the obvious that Middelburgensis primarily hails from areas around the Olifant River. 
 

If it’s a special variety…..even better. I’m just happy it’s alive and kickin’. Hope yours does well. 
 

-dale 

[Tracy]

11 hours ago, Billeb said:

Yup. Mine is from Kevin and the tag says Middelburgensis Olifants. I’ve never asked Kevin about it and I’m not sure it’s a special  variety of Middelburgensis or simply stating the obvious that Middelburgensis primarily hails from areas around the Olifant River. 
 

If it’s a special variety…..even better. I’m just happy it’s alive and kickin’. Hope yours does well. 
 

-dale 

The flush on this one’s main caudex is just hardening.  The color of the new leaflets hasn't achieved the dull grey blue tint and retains the pale green until they are completely hardened. 

It was acquired as Encephalart os middelburgensis as a small 1" caudex just planted up from a 3x9 liner.  I have received comments in the past that it looks like a form of E nubimontanus or perhaps a nubimontanus x middelburgensis., so I'm curious what others thoughts are now.

[Urban Rainforest]

Thats a great looking plant Tracy! They are hard for me to ID because I litterally have Nubimontanus that have no spines and ones that are spiny that came out of the same flat and same cone. 

[Urban Rainforest]

I only have 2 of these Cleopatra x true blue Arenarius and they are looking better with every flush! They are still throwing 1 leaf but each leaf is getting bluer. This is the second flush on this one since spring.

[Urban Rainforest]

This is another one of the Trappes Valley Latifrons I purchased last year throwing a leaf 5” bigger than the last one! I think its well on its way. Should be getting 2 leaf flushes soon.

[Tracy]

1 hour ago, Urban Rainforest said:

I only have 2 of these Cleopatra x true blue Arenarius and they are looking better with every flush! They are still throwing 1 leaf but each leaf is getting bluer. This is the second flush on this one since spring.

I don't recall what the cross is for Cleopatra.  Can you share that id?

Speaking of identification,  here is an unknown Cycas I grew from a 1 leaf 3×9 liner.  It is still looking for a name.

 

[Urban Rainforest]

Cleopatra is just a name that Jeff Chemnic calls his Atenarius x Horridus cross. So that crossed with true blue Arenarius. I’m really hoping that the Horridus and true Arenarius are the dominant genes of this cross! Sometimes it can take years before you know what you got. So far the shape of the leaves look more Horridus than true blue Arenarius! I also have some crosses  of true blue Arenarius x and Dwarf Horridus I’m pretty excited about but no flushes yet this season.

[Urban Rainforest]

Oh and the Cycas looks amazing but Im even worse iding Cycas. Maybe someone else can chime in.

[Billeb]

3 hours ago, Tracy said:

I don't recall what the cross is for Cleopatra.  Can you share that id?

2 hours ago, Urban Rainforest said:

Cleopatra is just a name that Jeff Chemnic calls his Atenarius x Horridus cross. 

 

Tracy and Steve, I have an old Facebook post from Jeff that somebody sent me and it states his Cleopatra cross is actually Horridus x Blue Arenarius. I don’t have that cross but I do have Blue Arenarius x Horridus and it’s one of my fastest plants. It was a 1” plant in a liner 3yrs ago. Terrible picture because the  lighting but here it is. It has multiple flushes a year and the last was 6 leaves. It’s far bluer that the picture shows also. 
 

-dale 

[Tracy]

On 8/15/2025 at 9:14 AM, Tracy said:

 

28 minutes ago, Billeb said:

I do have Blue Arenarius x Horridus

I don't know if any of the seeds from the Encephalartos arenarius above which was pollinated with Encephalartos princeps pollen have popped yet.  That may be an interesting cross, particularly if any take the blue of the pollen donor. 

[Tracy]

Encephalartos cupidus male cones which is just beginning to shed pollen. 

[N8ALLRIGHT]

Here's my first cone on my "Queretero blue", it's only just started recently,at least that I've seen. Probably going to be a lonely boy or girl, not a lot of Dioon in the area.

[Gallop]

[DippyD]

Some green and browns. Nubis, arens, dyers, dolos, Eugene’s, tris oh my… 

[Tracy]

6 minutes ago, DippyD said:

Some green and browns. Nubis, arens, dyers, dolos, Eugene’s, tris oh my… 

What are the last photo with the 3 male cones?