Woody > Encephalartos > Encephalartos Woodii > Encephalartos woodii
Encephalartos Woodii
| Family |
| Zamiaceae |
| Genus |
| Encephalartos |
| Species |
| Woodii |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (evergreen) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 10a |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Greater than 9a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H2 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| 1 - 5 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 34 - 40 |
| Height |
| 6 m |
| Spread |
| 3 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| The Encephalartos woodii is a tree that has dark green palm like leaves. On average, it is 6m in height with a trunk of 900mm at the base and 600mm near the crown. It has an estimated mass of 2.5 tons. It produces 6-8 bright orange cones that average at 40-90cm long and 150-200mm in diameter. The "Wood’s cycad" has only 1 wild specimen left in the world, making it one of the rarest plants in the world. |
| Cultivation |
| For optimum growth it requires a well drained soil with ample water. It can withstand dryness, although it grows best when it is well maintained and receives water regularly. The hot sun can burn its leaves, therefore it thrives better in shaded areas. |
| Shape |
| The Encephalartos woodii is cylindrical in shape with bright orange cones and palm-like leaves, with a thick smooth trunk holding it up. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| Pests |
| No notable pests or diseases. |
| Habitat |
| It is found in the oNgoye Forest of Kwazulu South Africa. There is only one known naturally occurring Wood's cycad in the world, making it one of the world's rarest plants. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| The bark is dense, unusually smooth and is grey in colour. |
| Leaf Description |
| The leaves are a palm-like glossy dark green with an arching shape, giving it a dense umbrella shaped crown. |
| Fruit Description |
| The fruit is a yellow cylindrical shaped cone, usually around 200mm in diameter and 90 cm long (also known by local tribes as ‘broodboom’). The fruit is toxic and needs 3 months of fermentation in order to be safe to consume. |
| Colour Description |
| It has dark green leaves with a grey bark. When it flowers, it has bright yellow/orange buds. |
| Notable Specimens |
| oNgoye Forest of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The temperate house Kew gardens. |
| Propagation |
| All cultivated Wood cycads are propagated into clones by clippings of the last known wild specimen on earth. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| Local tribes used it for food. They wrapped the starchy pith in animal skin, fermenting and eating it after it's ground into a meal. |
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