E. altensteinii
From R960.00
This Eastern Cape cycad grows along the east coast from the Busmans River in the south to as far north as the border of KwaZulu-Natal. It also occurs inland, up to 40km from the coast near Komga, Kei Road and King William’s Town. Vegetation varies from shade to full sun. Plants growing in shade will produce recurving leaves of 2-3m in length, while plants in full sun (typical) produce shorter, erect to gently recurving leaves. The leaves are mid-green in colour. These cycads may grow up to 4m tall.
Description
“Eastern Cape Giant Cycad
Encephalartos altensteinii is a palm-like cycad that is endemic to South Africa. The species name altensteinii commemorates Altenstein, a 19th-century German chancellor and patron of science. It is commonly known as the Eastern Cape giant cycad, umphanga, umguza, isundu (Xhosa) or uJobane (Zulu). It is a very ornamental garden plant and probably the most common of all the cycads in cultivation. This species is long-lived, is easy to grow and in time develops into large specimens.
This cycad grows up to seven meters tall and may be branched or unbranched. The leaves are straight or curved backwards and up to three meters in length. The leaflets are rigid and fairly broad with one or both margins toothed. There are no prickles at the base of the leaf which distinguishes it from E. natalensis. There are usually two to five greenish-yellow cones up to fifty centimeters long, the female scales covered with protuberances. The cones are poisonous to humans. The seeds are scarlet and up to four centimeters long.
Cultivation:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| full sun | green | very low watering | fast growth | frost-resistant | common |
This species is well known as it is easy to grow and adapts to most conditions, provided it has a well-drained growing medium and is not subject to severe frost. Adapts well to full sun or light shade. Because of the eventual size, Encephalartos altensteinii is best suited to large gardens where it can be displayed as a feature plant. When young they can be grown as container plants.
This species transplants easily as a mature plant although it is recommended to remove all of the leaves before doing so, as this makes handling a great deal easier and, most important of all, the plant will recover sooner as less moisture is lost. Good drainage, regular watering and feeding in early summer will help to maintain a healthy plant.”
Source / credit: https://africacycads.com/cycads.php
Additional information
| Size |
|---|
Related Products
E. middelburgensis
An attractive blue leaved cycad occurring in a number of fragmented colonies in the Middelburg, Groblersdal and Bronkhorstspruit districts. Various leaf forms exist depending on locality. The blue-grey leaves are straight, 1.1-1.8m long with stems up to 7m tall.
E. arenarius
This cycad is restricted to coastal dune forest and bush vegetation in the Alexandria district, north-east of Port Elizabeth. The leaves range from dark green in colour to a bluish shade, 1-1.5m long with stems up to 2m tall recorded. This cycad will do well in full sun or semi-shade.
E. paucidentatus
This cycad grows in the last remaining remnants of indigenous, evergreen forests within the Mpumalanga region. The leaves are dark green, 1.5-2m in length, erect to spreading with the tips curving gently upwards and inwards. The stems are robust and erect and up to 6m tall.
E. caffer
This cycad occurs in the coastal districts of the Eastern Cape. The stem is subterranean, reaching approximately 40cm. It can be grown in full sun to semi-shade with leaves olive green to dark green, 40-90cm long. Two distinct leaf forms, the “ruffled” leaf form and the more typical “neater” – looking erect leaf form.
E. ferox
Found in the sandy soils of Northern KwaZulu-Natal to Inhambane in Mozambique. This cycad grow well in sunny and shady positions, the shade plants producing darker, more luxuriant foliage. The leaves are dark green, 1-2m in length, erect to spreading. The stem can grow up to 1.5m tall.
E. horridus
E. horridus is found most commonly on ridges and slopes located in rocky soils, semi-arid parts of the Eastern Cape, between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage. The silvery-blue leaves are up to 1m long and often sharply recurved towards the tip, looking stiff and spiny. The stems grow up to 1m tall.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.