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Growing Cycads in Northern California

ghar41
ghar41
in TROPICAL LOOKING PLANTS - Other Than Palms

Featured Replies

There have been some cycads that have grown well for me, and many that haven't. In discussions with other N. CA. cycad growers, they have had similar results. Freezes burn the leaves of many species (although I have never had a cycad die after a freeze) and our cold wet winters likely rot root systems. They don't seem to do well with heavy root competition either. I have had better growth with higher nitrogen fertilization.

Here are some that have done well.

Lepidozamia peroskoffiana (center) burns a bit, but flushes nicely in the Spring. From seed 8+ years.

CycadsandYard2010006.jpg

Glenn

Modesto, California

 

Sunset Zone 14   USDA 9b

 

Low Temp. 19F/-7C 12-20-1990         

 

High Temp. 111F/43C 07-23-2006

 

Annual Average Precipitation 13.12 inches/yr.

 

             

    • Upvote 1
    • Author

    Encephalartos arenarus (blue-green) grows quickly for a cycad. Burns in freezes but reliably throws 1 or 2 tops every year. From two leaf seedling 10+ years.

    CycadsandYard2010014.jpg

    Glenn

    Modesto, California

     

    Sunset Zone 14   USDA 9b

     

    Low Temp. 19F/-7C 12-20-1990         

     

    High Temp. 111F/43C 07-23-2006

     

    Annual Average Precipitation 13.12 inches/yr.

     

                 

    • Upvote 1
    • Author

    I planted 4 Encephalartos ferox, this one is doing the best. Burns in freezes. 12+ years from seed.

    CycadsandYard2010004.jpg

    Glenn

    Modesto, California

     

    Sunset Zone 14   USDA 9b

     

    Low Temp. 19F/-7C 12-20-1990         

     

    High Temp. 111F/43C 07-23-2006

     

    Annual Average Precipitation 13.12 inches/yr.

     

                 

    • Upvote 1
    • Author

    Macrozamia mooreii has never burned in a freeze. It grows steadily but slowly.

    From seed 13+ years.

    CycadsandYard2010012.jpg

    I bought this one as a 10-11 inch diameter caudex. It grows slowly but I have been much more impressed with the growth from seed.

    CycadsandYard2010007.jpg

    Glenn

    Modesto, California

     

    Sunset Zone 14   USDA 9b

     

    Low Temp. 19F/-7C 12-20-1990         

     

    High Temp. 111F/43C 07-23-2006

     

    Annual Average Precipitation 13.12 inches/yr.

     

                 

    • Upvote 1
    • Author

    Encephalartos natalensis burns in freezes. Ive noticed that mine have produced a declining number of leaves over the past few years.

    CycadsandYard2010009.jpg

    CycadsandYard2010008.jpg

    Glenn

    Modesto, California

     

    Sunset Zone 14   USDA 9b

     

    Low Temp. 19F/-7C 12-20-1990         

     

    High Temp. 111F/43C 07-23-2006

     

    Annual Average Precipitation 13.12 inches/yr.

     

                 

    • Upvote 1
    • Author

    Cycas thouarsii burns in freezes but grows very fast and flushes twice a year. Below it, Zamia furfuracia burns in freezes, but replaces its top nicely every spring. Ceratozamia sp. (mexicana? far right) grows well and is currently coning.

    Cthouarsii001.jpg

    Glenn

    Modesto, California

     

    Sunset Zone 14   USDA 9b

     

    Low Temp. 19F/-7C 12-20-1990         

     

    High Temp. 111F/43C 07-23-2006

     

    Annual Average Precipitation 13.12 inches/yr.

     

                 

    • Upvote 1
    • Author

    Cycas panzuiaensis grows steadily and does not burn. From seed 5 years.

    CycadsandYard2010015.jpg

    Glenn

    Modesto, California

     

    Sunset Zone 14   USDA 9b

     

    Low Temp. 19F/-7C 12-20-1990         

     

    High Temp. 111F/43C 07-23-2006

     

    Annual Average Precipitation 13.12 inches/yr.

     

                 

    • Upvote 1
    • Author

    Encephalartos lehmanii grows unevenly and very slowly. It has never shown frost damage. From seed 10+ years.

    CycadsandYard2010010.jpg

    Glenn

    Modesto, California

     

    Sunset Zone 14   USDA 9b

     

    Low Temp. 19F/-7C 12-20-1990         

     

    High Temp. 111F/43C 07-23-2006

     

    Annual Average Precipitation 13.12 inches/yr.

     

                 

    • Upvote 1

    Very nice, Glenn....end of summer pics are always the best for our tropicals!

    John Case

    Brentwood CA

    Owner and curator of Hana Keu Garden

    USDA Zone 9b more or less, Sunset Zone 14 in winter 9 in summer

    "Its always exciting the first time you save the world. Its a real thrill!"

    •
    • Upvote 1

    Great looking cycads Glenn. I've got a few that grow unevenly like your lehmanii, I'm not sure why they do that.

    Matt in Temecula, CA

    Hot and dry in the summer, cold with light frost in the winter. Halfway between the desert and ocean

    • Upvote 1

    that lehmannii sure looks like it's trying to be a trispinosus :)
    • Author

    Very nice, Glenn....end of summer pics are always the best for our tropicals!

    Thanks John and Matt! I had to wait until late in the season to get decent pics of these.

    Glenn

    Modesto, California

     

    Sunset Zone 14   USDA 9b

     

    Low Temp. 19F/-7C 12-20-1990         

     

    High Temp. 111F/43C 07-23-2006

     

    Annual Average Precipitation 13.12 inches/yr.

     

                 

    • Upvote 1
    • Author

    that lehmannii sure looks like it's trying to be a trispinosus :)

    It could be and I wouldn't even know! I bought the seeds through the Cycad society many years ago.

    Glenn

    Modesto, California

     

    Sunset Zone 14   USDA 9b

     

    Low Temp. 19F/-7C 12-20-1990         

     

    High Temp. 111F/43C 07-23-2006

     

    Annual Average Precipitation 13.12 inches/yr.

     

                 

    • Upvote 1

    Glenn,

    do you know of anyone growing Cycas media in northern California?

    I've got a few seedlings and I'm wondering whether they can go outside or be confined to pots forever.

    Cheers,

    Jonathan

    South Arm, Tasmania, Australia - 42° South

    Mild oceanic climate, with coastal exposure.

     

    Summer: 12°C (53°F) average min, to 21°C (70°F) average daily max. Up to 40°C (104°F max) rarely.

     

    Winter: 6°C (43°F) average min, to 13°C (55°F) average daily max. Down to 0°C (32°F) occasionally, some light frost.

    • Author

    Glenn,

    do you know of anyone growing Cycas media in northern California?

    I've got a few seedlings and I'm wondering whether they can go outside or be confined to pots forever.

    Cheers,

    Jonathan

    [quote)

    Hi Jonathan,

    No I don't know of anyone growing Cycas media here in N Ca....and I haven't tried it myself. Anyone else out there growing it?

    Glenn

    Modesto, California

     

    Sunset Zone 14   USDA 9b

     

    Low Temp. 19F/-7C 12-20-1990         

     

    High Temp. 111F/43C 07-23-2006

     

    Annual Average Precipitation 13.12 inches/yr.

     

                 

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