(Malawi Cycad)

Impressive in size and stature, the numerous frond-like leaves of Encephalartos gratus are stiff and held upright, with dark glossy green leaflets that have prickly spines on their edges. Native to the rocky slopes along streams in the deciduous forest of Mozambique and Malawi in central southern Africa, this slow growing cycad is considered one of the most beautiful of the African cycads; its species name of gratus means “pleasant.”

The trunk-like stem of the Malawi cycad is...

(Horrible Blue Cycad, Spiny Blue Cycad)

Architecturally splendid in stature, the numerous sharp silvery blue leaves of Encephalartos horridus, the horrible blue cycad, are stiff and held in an upright but slightly arching cluster. Native to the hot, sunny scrub and rocky ridges of the Eastern Cape of South Africa, this slow growing clumping cycad is considered one of the most admired of the African cycads; its species name of horridus means 'horrible' and hints of the experience with its foliage.

Horrible blue cycad...

(Karoo Cycad)

Architecturally handsome, the numerous sharp blue-green leaves of the Karoo cycad are stiff and held in an upright but slightly arching cluster atop a plump stem. Native to the hot, arid interior of the Eastern Cape of South Africa, this slow growing cycad is the cold hardiest and most drought tolerant of the African cycads.

Karoo cycad slowly forms a plump, upright, trunk-like stem that is beige. From the stem top is a circular rosette of upright blue-green leaves. Each stiff but curving leaf...

(Gorongowe Cycad, Rhodesian Cycad)

Impressively elegant in stature, the frond-like leaves of Encephalartos manikensis are stiff and gently arching, with medium green leaflets. Native to rocky hillsides in the highlands of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, this slow growing cycad has a trunk-like, rounded stem that will slowly reach waist height.

At the top of the Gorongowe cycad's stem is a circular rosette of long dark green leaves. Each leaf frond is ornately lined with medium to dark green slightly prickly leaflets. The leaflets...

(Lebombo Cycad, Xhosa)

Resembling a miniature date palm in appearance, the spiny, frond-like leaves of Encephalartos senticosus are stiff and upright, with dark green leaflets. Native to rocky slopes and cliffs in the Lebombo Range in northeastern South Africa, this slow growing cycad has a trunk-like, very thick stem that will slowly reach head-height.

At the top of the Lebombo cycad's stem is a circular rosette of long dark green leaves. Each leaf frond is ornately lined with medium to dark green leaflets...

(Bushman's River Cycad)

Bushman's River cycad forms a suckering clump of plants over several decades. The stiff, frond-like leaves are gray to blue-gray and teem with numerous sharp leaflets and lobes. Native to the hot, sunny scrub and rocky ridges of the Eastern Cape of South Africa, this very slow growing clumping cycad is considered one of the most ornamental and cold-hardy of the African cycads.

The low, stem-like stump of this cycad holds five to seven leaves. Very old plants may be a multi-stumped clump. Each...

(Wood's Cycad)

The numerous frond-like leaves of Encephalartos woodii are stiff and held outward and upright, with dark glossy green leaflets held on arching stems. Native to open, forested hillsides in South Africa, this relatively fast-growing, vigorous cycad often suckers at its base, producing a clump with great age. This species was discovered in 1895, and no female plants have ever been located.

The trunk-like stem of Wood's cycad is tan and thick, flaring out at the base when this tree-like...

(Encyclia, Orchid)

Whether grown in the ground or upon a tree branch or rock wall, Hanbury's encyclia orchid is no less than extravagant from late winter into early summer with a tall flower spike of many rosy tan to mauve blossoms. A terrestrial (ground-growing) tender orchid from the highlands of Mexico and Guatemala, it can be found in clumps in the dappled shade of pine woodlands there. It also can grow as an epiphytic (growing upon another plant such as a tree) or wedged between rocks on a cliff.

This clumping...

(Abyssinian Banana)

Abyssinian banana is closely related to the edible banana we are all familiar with; however, the fruits of this species are dry and unpalatable. It is native to Ethiopia in east central Africa. Abyssinian banana has paddle-shaped leaves that can be tremendously large and long arising from a a central crown. The stem midribs are red underneath. The plant dies back to the root base after blooming which usually occurs two to five years after planting.

Abyssinian banana requires a rich fertile soil...

(Abyssinian banana, Maurel's Abyssinian Banana, Red-leaved Banana)

Abyssinian banana is closely related to the edible banana we are all familiar with; however, the fruits of this species are dry and unpalatable. Abyssinian banana has paddle-shaped leaves up to 20 feet long arising from a a central crown. The mid-ribs of the stems are red underneath. The plant dies back to the crown after blooming which usually occurs two to five years after planting.

Maurelii Abyssinian banana has red tinged leaves above and dark red leaf stalks.