Cardboard palm

[Kansas]

About 2 months ago I went to Lowe's and saw a Zamia that had a cone. I didn't buy it then cause I wanted the Robusta instead, and I was not sure what kind of Zamia it was.
Went back today with a lil more knowledge and bought it althou the cone was of coarse dead.
How do I know if it was a male cone or a female cone? The cone was about 4" around and about 6" long and looked like a corn on the cob.

[Knnn]

I've yet to have any of mine cone but some info here might be of help,
http://www.plantapalm.com/vce/biology/reproduction.htm

I ran across this one at the discount store today and thought it could use a better home

[lucky1]

KNN, I looked throughout every nursery today to see if I could find one of those in your pic. Nada anywhere.
Fabulous. What is it called? It certainly looks like a succulent. I simply must have one.
Or did Kansas call it a Cardboard palm?

[Laaz]

Damn Steve. My wife would throw me out with all those plants... I don't know how you get away with it. I have to sneak my new stuff into the yard, but she always knows when something is out of place. Nice Cycad ! How hardy are they ? The King sago is everywhere here, but you never see the other varieties.

[Knnn]

Or Cardboard Palm, These are one of the more common Zamias around. They are frost tender so a zone 10 for outside but they will do well in a container.

At the discount stores look for these potted up in the bonsai display with the rocks glued on .......
Drop them in a one gallon container add some warmth and they will take off.


Laaz,
hmmm......... I guess I need to think about what to do with this stuff before it gets bigger



~ Steve

[lucky1]

Gosh I walked past all the bonsai plants today without even looking!
I might have missed Zamia (Cardboard Palm).
Zone doesn't matter 'coz it'll definitely be indoors, except summering on the patio with its other Cycad kin.

Sneaking plants home! ha ha It's an honest swap for shoes, dresses, what have you. Start counting

[lucky1]

oh oh, read this from Dave's Garden on the Lamia:

All parts of the cardboard palm are poisonous to animals and humans. The toxicity causes liver and kidney failure, eventual paralysis. Dehydration sets in very quickly. There is no antidote. There are fatality reports filed with Poison Control on dogs and livestock.

There was a small Cardboard Palm in the screened pool room of the home we bought in Florida. We had no idea what it was. When the female pod opens, it reveals bright yellow seeds that gradually turn red, resembling jelly beans.

Our two dogs, who'd never shown a previous interest in vegetation, were attracted to the berries, which we only realized when they began throwing them up. Despite all attempts by our veterinarian, we lost one dog in two days, the other in two weeks. Unfortunately, this aspect of the plant is rarely included in available information.

Another site recommends handling seeds followed immediately by washing hands.
Probably a good idea to keep it above pets' reach.
...except the neighbour's cat

[Knnn]

Cycads contain neurotoxins in varying amounts, these tend to concentrate in the seeds and would cause problems if ingested. It is something to be aware of and can present the same risk as many other plants and houseplants ( brugmansia, some vegetable foliage, etc)

Always a good idea to research what you have to be aware of these things

Some good articles on Cycad Culture are here,

http://cycadjungle.8m.com/cycadjungle/articles.html

[Kansas]

Steve,
The one I bought at Lowe's has many brown leaves. It did put up a cone last year. If I cut back a bunch (has 13-15) stems, will that delay another cone a year or so? Am I correct in thinking they cone every two-three years?

[oppalm]

Note to self - don't ever bite into cardboard palm.

[Knnn]

Oppalm - Cleaning Sago seeds without gloves will also turn your hands a nice shade of orange for several weeks too......


Kansas - In our climate coning every other season would probably be about right, a Cycad will cone when it is mature enough and has a large enough reserve of energy built up ( Starch stored in the caudex )

The dead fronds can be trimmed off anytime. Anything that is marginal can be trimmed once it warms up and new growth is evident.

[oppalm]

steve - are you talking about the same color orange that my fingers turn when I eat Cheetos? If so, I have a shirt that matches that color.

[lucky1]

Hey, knn, remember how I was interested in your Cardboard Palm? Well, look what arrived in my email today (I hope I'm allowed to cut 'n paste this here...I'll take my 'blows' if not, and apologize in advance). BUT it's all about buying ZAMIAS, etc. but I need to know what kind they have that's the same as yours:

Anyway, here it is:

Hello, fellow cycad enthusiasts:

Just a short note to let you know we now have the following seeds for sale.
They are all in various stages of germination, so will not be available for long. Prices include shipping within Canada.

Zamia integrifolia - a small cycad with subterranean stems. Young leaves
covered with short, rusty-brown hairs. Mature leaves dark green, stiff,
flat, four to ten leaves in each crown. Endemic to Florida, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands, where it grows in a wide variety of habitats and
soils. A very hardy and adaptable species suitable to warm temperate
climates, although they will survive in a sheltered location in colder climates. Probably best as a pot plant that is brought indoors over winter.
Seeds were formerly the source of Florida arrowroot and the original
arrowroot cookie! Wild population status is threatened due to
overharvesting in early 1900s. 10 germinated seeds for $20, includes shipping within Canada

Zamia polymorpha - a small cycad native to Belize, with subterranean stem and lanceolate leaves, leathery, glossy green. Easily grown in cultivation, they apparently cone freely and set seeds easily. Must be overwintered
indoors. 10 seeds for $30, including shipping within Canada.

Zamia variegata - the only variegated cycad. A small cycad with a
subterranean trunk. Leaves are oblong, lanceolate, thin-textured,
yellowish to bluish-green with white or cream patches or spots. Native to
Chiapas, Mexico, western Guatemala and southern Belize, growing in
rainforests. Requires warm, humid conditions with free air movement and
light shade. Must be kept indoors over winter in our Canadian climate. A
stunning cycad! 10 germinated seeds for $40, including shipping within
Canada

Lori Pickering
604-883-0079
Jurassic Plants Nursery
www.jurassicplantsnursery.com

Before joining PalmsNorth, I discovered her site (she's on Vancouver Island, I think) and ordered a Dioon edule...to arrive end of April.

So knn, which of her listed plants are THE cardboard palm that you have?

[Laaz]

Lucky1, Zamia furfuracea is the cardboard (cycad) or palm.

[lucky1]

Super, thanks for the quick reply.
It's not on her list, but she's got a nursery, so maybe she has STUFF for sale (as well as seeds).
I'll email Lori about the furfuracea (my tongue has to get used to that name)...
Barb

[Laaz]

It is on her list. Look under Cycads.

<<Zamia furfuracea (also known as Zamia maritima) The "fur" refers to a reddish fuzz that covers the elliptical leaflets. This exotic-looking cycad makes a great houseplant, for the dry conditions indoors reflect those of its native Mexico, where it grows in coastal sand dunes exposed to salt spray. It has a very rapid growth rate for a cycad, and in optimum conditions can produce cones within three years. Z. furfuracea is a popular landscape plant in California and Mediterranean countries, where it withstands several degrees of frost. Plants with three-inch caudex, in clay pots, $59. >>

[lucky1]

thks Laaz, ...gotta clean my glasses!

Gee, if this plant needs salt spray, I'll situate it under the kitchen table!
Barb