Encephalartos tegulaneus

Kenyan giant cycad
Very large cycad makes a spectacular focal point for part-shade areas with good drainage, or in a pot. An elegant, sculptural, choice rarity.
height 6–20ft
width 6–15ft
tolerates Cool Summers, Heat, Pots
water
needs		 Low – Moderate
water
info		 Cycads need good drainage to thrive, and this one will require average water once established. Near the coast this plant may become drought-tolerant once established.
hardy
to		 28F
exposure Full Shade – Part Shade
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix
fertilizing All Purpose 1/2 Strength
origin Kenya
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 13, 15–17, 19–H2

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

Allow plenty of room for the rosette of six-foot-long leaves to develop. They are spiny.
Native to forested areas at moderate elevations (1,400 up to 2,300 meters above sea level) in Kenya, this plant performs well with morning sun or light shade. Near the coast it may tolerate full sun. In hot, dry inland areas give it full shade.
While it’s one of the faster-growing cycads, it’s best treated as a foliage feature. Eventually it forms a thick trunk (1 to 3 feet in diameter) and begins to resemble a palm tree, so place it to accommodate its size. Ancient plants in habitat reach 30 feet tall.

Special Interest

New leaves emerge in dramatic flushes, resembling the growth habit of some ferns. Young leaves are soft and pliable and covered in silky hairs.

When it reaches maturity, cones will form in the center of the crown of leaves. Plants are either male or female and the cones are sexually dimorphic—male and female cones have different shapes.