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cold-hardy American cycads

Posted by Troy Hibbitts on 2/9/2011, 10:55 am
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I've been doing some research trying to accumulate a list of potential cycads for my yard. I'm in zone 9a (more or less, although we got some 8b temps this winter). In an average winter, we get temps down to 24-25 F, but this winter we had a cold snap that was the lowest in 25 years as it got down to 13 one night.

So far, I've found that most of the northern Ceratozamias are the best bet:

C. hildae
C. kuesteriana
C. latifolia
C. mexicana
C. microstrobila
C. zaragozae

Did I leave any off this list?

Next, I'm looking at Zamia species - this list is a bit more sketchy, because I'm seeing some conflicting (and much more incomplete) info online. Some of these species, I'm inferring cold-tolerance from geographic range and habitat/habits. If anyone could offer comments on any of these species, I'd appreciate it:

Z. integrifolia/floridana
Z. pumila
Z. angustifolia
Z. pororicensis?
Z. amblyphylidia?
Z. fischeri?
Z. vazquezi?
Z. inermis?

Z. furfuracea is a curious one, as I see them planted in our area, often with varying degrees of leaf burn. I have 2 in pots that were bought locally AFTER the hard freeze which were minimally protected outdoors (under plastic tarps) which show very limited damage. Yet geographically, it would seem to be less likely to be cold-hardy than many others.

Also, the Dioon species - D. edule, D. angustifolia, D. sonorense, D. tomaselli

Any help with this list would be appreciated. Maybe a breakdown as to "stick it in ground and don't worry about cold", "put it in ground but protect it from hard freezes", or "wouldn't put it in the ground"?

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cold-hardy American cycads - Troy Hibbitts 2/9/2011, 10:55 am
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--Previous Message-- : I've been doing some research trying : to accumulate a list of potential : cycads for my yard. I'm in zone 9a : (more or less, although we got some : 8b temps this winter). In an : average winter, we get temps down to : 24-25 F, but this winter we had a : cold snap that was the lowest in 25 : years as it got down to 13 one : night. : : So far, I've found that most of the : northern Ceratozamias are the best : bet: : : C. hildae : C. kuesteriana : C. latifolia : C. mexicana : C. microstrobila : C. zaragozae : : Did I leave any off this list? : : Next, I'm looking at Zamia species - : this list is a bit more sketchy, : because I'm seeing some conflicting : (and much more incomplete) info : online. Some of these species, I'm : inferring cold-tolerance from : geographic range and habitat/habits. : If anyone could offer comments on : any of these species, I'd appreciate : it: : : Z. integrifolia/floridana : Z. pumila : Z. angustifolia : Z. pororicensis? : Z. amblyphylidia? : Z. fischeri? : Z. vazquezi? : Z. inermis? : : Z. furfuracea is a curious one, as I : see them planted in our area, often : with varying degrees of leaf burn. : I have 2 in pots that were bought : locally AFTER the hard freeze which : were minimally protected outdoors : (under plastic tarps) which show : very limited damage. Yet : geographically, it would seem to be : less likely to be cold-hardy than : many others. : : Also, the Dioon species - D. edule, : D. angustifolia, D. sonorense, D. : tomaselli : : Any help with this list would be : appreciated. Maybe a breakdown as : to "stick it in ground and : don't worry about cold", : "put it in ground but protect : it from hard freezes", or : "wouldn't put it in the : ground"? :

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