What are the Cycads?

Cycad plants grow as trees and shrubs. They typically have short trunks topped off with a green crown of large compound leaves. In appearance they closely resemble palm trees, however, they are not closely related. Most species do not grow more than a few meter tall. Hope’s cycad of Australia is one of the tallest species and is known to reach 20 m in height. More primitive cycads were often much taller than the majority of cycad species that currently exist. As might be expected of a plant group that has survived for millions of years, cycads are a hardy type of plant. They do well in the warm climate garden in a well-drained spot with plenty of sun. Cycads need a medium amount of water, but cannot tolerate frost. However, they are popular indoor plants, where temperatures can be controlled so they thrive year round. The key to a happy indoor cycad is to keep the soil moist. The San Diego Zoo nurtures an accredited cycad collection of more than 810 plants representing 108 species, including 23 endangered species, 15 critically endangered species, and 40 others listed as either vulnerable or near threatened.

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