OTHER CYCAD FEATURES
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by unknown author, PACSOA
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ENCEPHALARTOS
MIDDELBURGENSIS
Locality:
This species is endemic
to the Witbank and Middelburg districts of South Africa.
They occur in fragmented populations, and their habitat
is rocky soil and outcroppings in grasslands and
valleys. The climate is hot and dry (getting most
of their rain in the summer months). Winter months
can be cold and experience periodic freezes.
Plant Size: This
is a medium sized species. Leaves are
approximately a meter and a half to almost two meters.
Stems can reach an excess of ten meters over the
centuries and have the tendency to sucker moderately
(though this can vary).
Other Characteristics:
This is a beautiful blue Encephalartos
species. In shade, like many of the blue
Encephalartos, this species will not appear nearly
as blue. Its name is derived from the habitat in
which it was discovered (i.e. the Middelburg district of
South Africa). Leaves are armed with prickles, but
depending on cultivar the degree can vary. Larger,
older specimens tend to bear less spines than younger
juvenile plants. This is another species from the
Transvaal region of South Africa. This is
noteworthy are some of the rarest and most beautiful
species of Encephalartos hail from this region.
E. middelburgensis is a moderate grower, and
tends to flush annually. The female cones on this
species are a yellow, green with fine brown tomentum,
where male cones are much darker in appearance covered
in a dark brown tomentum.
Culture: In
coastal and inland areas this plant needs to be in the
sun. For desert areas, partial sun or filtered
light is adequate. I recommend a soil that drains
quickly for this species. Excessively wet soil
will lead to rot problems with this species.
Landscape Usage:
As this plant can get some size to it, you'll want to
give it some room. It is not a rapid grower, but
they will gain size more quickly than you would think.
They should be situated in the mid-level of a garden,
where they will not be too close to seating of a
walkway. Do not crowd this plant as they will make
a full crown of beautiful blue leaves. In time
this will become one of the more attractive plants in
your garden.
Availability: We
usually will have several sizes of this species for
sale. Rarely we'll get a larger plant from a
private collection. We often have seedlings. Although
hard to find, this is definitely a species worthy of the
collector.
Pricing:
Encephalartos middelburgenis is somewhat
expensive, especially when larger. Typical
prices, when available, are shown below.
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