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Cycad

Encephalartos hirsutus

Also called Venda Cycad

Cycad
Photo: C T Johansson, CC BY-SA 4.0

Encephalartos hirsutus is a rare arborescent cycad from the quartzite cliffs of Limpopo, South Africa, with an erect stem up to about 4 m tall. It is critically rare in the wild, so it is grown mainly by collectors, and it needs well-drained soil, plenty of warmth and bright light.

Family
Zamiaceae (Cycad family)
Grows as
Shrub
Light
Full sun, Part shade
Water
Water deeply during the growing season and let the soil dry out between waterings; keep it nearly dry in winter.
Soil
Very well-drained mix, such as cactus or gritty mix with added sand or grit.
Temperature
18–30 °C; protect below 5–10 °C
How easy
Moderate
Native range
Limpopo
Climate
subtropical

About

Encephalartos hirsutus is a species of cycad that is native to Limpopo Province of South Africa. It was recorded from three separate localities on south-east-facing quartzite cliffs in the Makuya Nature Reserve bordering the Kruger National Park at elevations ranging from 800–1,000 meters (2,600–3,300 ft) above sea level.

As of 2020, it is assumed there are up to 10 individuals in the wild.

Other Encephalartos plants

Cycad · Eastern Cape giant cycad · Cycad · Alexandria cycad · Cycad · Escarpment cycad · Lake Natron Cycad · Cycad · Chimanimani cycad · Runde cycad · Cycad · Winterberg Cycad

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Encephalartos hirsutus by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

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