Woody > Encephalartos > Encephalartos altensteinii > Encephalartos altensteinii
Encephalartos altensteinii
Prickly Cycad
Origin: Native to Southern Africa.
| Family |
| Zamiaceae |
| Genus |
| Encephalartos |
| Species |
| altensteinii |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (evergreen), Shrub (evergreen) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 10 - 12 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| Height |
| 3 - 6 m |
| Spread |
| 2 - 5 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| Landscape |
| Ornamental use and container planting when young. |
| Cultivation |
| Full sun and partial-shade. Moist, well-drained soils. Prefers loam. Shade, light frost and drought tolerant. |
| Shape |
| Dense and upright. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Over time a stout trunk develops. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Produces seed cones. The cones on female trees grow to 55 cm long and resembles a pineapple. Cones on male trees are cylindrical and smaller. |
| Leaf Description |
| Stiff, pinnate, palm-like leaves with spiny leaflets. Leaves are whorled into a dense upright crown. Leaflets usually have prickles. |
| Colour Description |
| The leaflets are bright green. The cones are yellowish-green. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Kings Park and Botanical Garden, Perth, Australia. |
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