OTHER CYCAD FEATURES
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ENCEPHALARTOS INOPINUS
Locality:
This species is endemic to the Mpumalanga province, South
Africa. The climate is hot and dry. E. inopinus
grows primarily in precipitous rock (rocky soil, rocky
outcroppings, cliffs, etc.) which often have a high dolomite
content. The habitat consists of thick dry brush and
drought tolerant species.
Plant Size: This is a small to
medium sized species. Leaves can grow between a meter to a
meter and a half. Stems can reach a height of over four
meters over the centuries. This species will make basal
suckers, but does so sparingly.
Other Characteristics:
"The Latin word inopinus means unexpected, a reference to the
type locality, Onverwacht Farm (Dutch = unexpected), and to the
fact that the discovery of a cycad species at that time, was
unexpected among the South African botanical fraternity." (Encephalartos
inopinus, R.A. Dyer) This plant has beautiful falcate
(sickle shaped) leaflets, which can vary on color. They
can be green, blue/green or a powdery blue. E.
inopinus is unarmed and is not sharp. This species is
a moderate to slow grower. It is difficult to establish
from offsets, unlike many South African Encephalartos.
It is uncommon to see this species in person, even amongst
enthusiasts of cycads, and is quite difficult to get. Both
the male and female cones are whitish green with a bluish hew.
Culture: In coastal and inland areas, this
species wants to be in sun. For desert areas, partial sun
or filtered light is ideal. This species wants to be in a
very porous mix/soil. If they are too wet, they will be
very likely to rot.
Landscape Usage: .This is a
gorgeous plant and should be placed where it can be seen. I
would put them toward the front of a planting for maximum
"viewing pleasure". They are adaptable for most garden types,
though for gardens that require more water ensure that this
species has adequate drainage (mound planting is advisable)
Availability: We
occasionally have this species for sale. It's generally
smaller sizes from private collections. Also, once in a
while, seedlings are available. It's rare to ever see a
mature plant for sale with over a foot of trunk.
Pricing:
Encephalartos inopinus is among the most
expensive cycads in the world to obtain. This is because
of rarity and lack of availability of seeds. If we are out
of stock when you look, email us and we'll contact you when more
plants are available.
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