Kei cycad

The Kei cycad is indigenous to the eastern Cape, and specifically to the Kei River catchment area. Leaves are blue-green, maturing to a grey-green. Female cones are barrel-shaped and 30 - 40 cm in length and produce red seeds.

Planning

Difficulty

Moderate

Fruiting time

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter

Harvesting

Harvest seed when mature and colored.

Propagation

Seed

Naked seeds grow on female plants and need pollen from male plants to be fertile. Sow fresh fertile seeds in sandy soil and keep warm and moist. Germination can take 1-3 months.

Suckers

Allow suckers to grow attached to the motherplant for about two years until they have enough reserves to survive on their own. Remove with a clean cut and use flowers-of-sulphar to help the wounds to heal.

Special features

Geography

Origin

South Africa, Eastern Cape, Kei-river

Natural climate

Temperate Coastal

Environment

Light

Full Sun

Soil moisture

Moist

Soil type

Loam

Soil PH preference

Alkaline, Neutral

Frost hardiness

Hardy

Uses

Edible

The Afrikaans name 'Broodboom' came from the traditional use of the pith as bread - note that Cycads is toxic and it needs a 3month fermentation process to break down those toxins!

Notes

Ornamental

Personality

Family

Zamiaceae

Flower colour

Scent

None

Problems

Few, but include mealy bug and scale insects.

Citrus Mealybug

Planococcus citri

Red Scale

Aonidiella auranti