Ceratozamia kuesteriana

[redbeard917]

New flush. I just planted this a few months back, so it must be happy. There aren't many pics online, so I figured I'd add some.

[redbeard917]

And today.

[buccaneers37]

Nice flush!

I took a picture of mine when I got home. It's coning & has a small flush starting.

[JasonD]

It's a very hardy cycad; I saw it looking flawless in South Carolina where it had gone through two below-20F winters.

[Palmdude]

Wow! What a gorgeous colored flush!

[cycadjungle]

Yes, these are part of the group of Ceratozamias that can handle 14F or lower before they even get damaged, yet alone death. I'll go out and see if any are flushing right now. I have a few that have something like 7 to 9 heads in the cluster and when they flush, they look thick enough to make an impact. They are a thinner growing plant so they look great yo close but you lose them when viewed from a distance. Now a latifolia with thick leaflets and red-brown emergent leaves, they stand out from a distance. This whole group of cycads are my favorites for landscaping in this 9a-b area. I don't know what zone Raleigh NC is in, but these big 5 cerats have been growing outside for the last 3-5 years at a nursery that also is my customer. I would bet hildaes would take close to single digits if the duration wasn't long.

[Moose]

[redbeard917]

Here is the same flush after a period of time, the red is fading to brown.

[Moose]

Still looking very nice Lucas. Do you fertilize your cycads ? Personally I love the Ceratozamia and Zamia cycads. I never fertilize them as I've lost some trying to get them to increase their size. Left on there own, they do well all by themselves in my garden. Most cycads are slow and do what they do. Pushing them has not worked for me.

[redbeard917]

I don't fertilize much in general. Especially not cycads. Too lazy, I guess. In this plant's case, it was planted recently so I definitely haven't fertilized it. I just got lucky buying a plant that was ready to flush.

Here it is today. Brown is fading to green. Leaves are really wide now. Must like its shady spot. I guess I'd agree that it's a plant that is best appreciated up close, but I like it nonetheless.

[redbeard917]

The new leaves are all of 17 inches wide.

[Rory]

Really nice looking plant! These are one of my favorite Ceratozamia species. Here's mine with a flush going on right now too.

[redbeard917]

Nice plant, Rory.

I saw this one today at Thomas Edison's winter house in Fort Myers, FL. It gets some direct sun.

[Al in Kona]

This pic shows the 2-Ceratozamia kuesteriana (one slightly hidden behind the other) that are growing on a slope in our garden.  Our 6 ft. (180.3cm) tall grandson standing for scale.  This low maintenance Cycad always looks good. 

[redbeard917]

Seems to like that sunny spot, Al. Love your garden as always.

To continue the theme of finding this species in public gardens, here's one from Leu Gardens in Orlando, FL.