Tag Archives: Cycads

Pollinating a rare Cycad: First phase, collecting the pollen from the male

Male cone of Cycas multifrondis Canarius | Sunday July 22nd, 2018 |
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A male cone is ready!

We grow different species of cycads as mother plants in order to obtain seeds for propagation. Here we show the mountain form of Cycas diannanensis. In february 2018, as our plants are about 8 years old, the first specimen achieved maturity and it is a male. Once the tall cone is fully exposed and developed it starts to shed yellow pollen.

Here in Tenerife, February is cool and wet. No females are ready, but one of the adjoining plants is now showing the tip of a female cone, which is much shorter and wider. It will be ready later, probably in mid-summer when the hot weather will make it grow faster.

So we collect the pollen from the male Cycas diannanensis ‘Mountain Form’ and store it for a later use. The pollen is put in a paper envelope and gently dried. It has to be refrigerated in order to last for months. Once the female cone will be ready we will try to inject the pollen inside to make the pollination happen. Our goal is to produce seeds and seedlings for our website www.canarius.com

Pollinating a rare cycad:

What is Cycas diannanensis ‘Mountain Form’ ?

rare male Cycad

Cold-hardy cycad from high elevation, with broad leaflets. Leaf margins are flat or undulate, not twisted on the rachis. It is a widespread species in China, distributed through central and eastern Yunnan, often found on steep slopes high on ridges, between about 600 and 1800 m. This species was described in the 1990′s. Leaves are bright green or deep green, highly glossy, 140-330 cm long. Cycas diannanensis is another frost hardy species.

This particular form of Cycas diannanensis was formerly named by Chinese botanists Cycas parvulus, known from the material collected around Mengdian village.


How to grow Cycads? Maurice Levin tell us:

Cycads-Canarius Canarius | Thursday May 19th, 2016 |
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cycas-tanqingii-specimenCycads (division Cycadophyta) are unique plants from remote and primitive ages. They’re a species with similar forms to palms and ferns, despite not being related to each other. They’re also gymnosperms, in the Cycadales order, so do not produce flowers but do produce cones, such as pines and other conifers.

Cycads live in tropical and subtropical environments: humid rainforests, dry rainforests, cloud forests, pine-oak forests and shrubland. They’re often in danger and restricted to innaccessible or hard to reach areas. However, others grow in mountainous areas with cold temperatures, even tolerating frost and snow.

Some Cycads have become popular ornamentals

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dioon-edule-specimenMost Cycad species grow well in the garden and they’re excellent potted plants. Some have become popular decorative plants, while others are very rare and are protected by law, such as CITES species (an international treaty against over-exploitation due to international trade).

Cycads are easy to grow because they do not require particular treatment. Watering frequency depends on the temperature and exposure of the plant: the soil of a plant that’s exposed to the sun will dry very quickly, so it should be watered more often. Although we must also be careful with waterlogging plantpots as it’s not a species that’s very tolerant of this.

Of course. Farmers should be very patient, since they’re slow-growing plants. As a revealing fact, we can highlight that Cycads can live for more than 2,000 years.

Maurice Levin, Cycad Expert

Below, we share a video in which planter and preservationist, Maurice Levin (founder of Jurassic Garden — A&A Cycads, a family-owned rare plant nursery in California), explains what Cycads are and their most optimum growing methods:

At Canarius our Cycads are plants grown from seeds, two or more years old, and grown in tall planters. All plants are grown legally.

We offer the largest selection of Cycads genus in Europe, with many new Chinese species resistant to cold. Visit the Cycad section on our blog and find out why our plants are of excellent quality.

Cycas tansachana seedlings grow a thick base

Canarius | Tuesday October 12th, 2010 |
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Cycas tansachana is one of the largest cycads, native to limestone mountains in Thailand, about 100 Km North of Bangkok. It has a clean yellowish trunk and large leaves with long stiff leaflets. It can reach up to 7 m, with many branches and large base up to 1 m wide. It is attractive as a young plant because of the swollen base.  Cycas tansachana is suited to pot colture.

Thick stems in young Cycas tansachana

Thick stems in young Cycas tansachana

This picture shows a picture of Cycas tansachana taken in March 2010. These are two year old plants, growing in the nursery for www.canarius.com. They are already showing an large, thick base.

You can buy plants of this species and many more in our Cycad Shop at Canarius.

Time Lapse Video of Cycas debaoensis, a bipinnate cycad from China.

Canarius | Wednesday September 8th, 2010 |
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This video shows one of the most beautiful leaves of the world unfolding gracefully. A tiny shoot grows into a very complex leaf.

Cycas debaoensis is one of the many species of cycas from China that have bipinnate leaves. The cycad shop at www.canarius.com has the best selection in Europe of bipinnate cycads.

Some bipinnate cycads, with leaves similar to the ones shown above.

  • Cycas bifida
  • Cycas debaoensis
  • Cycas longipetiolula
  • Cycas multifrondis
  • Cycas multipinnata

Visit our shop and buy plants in pots, up to five years old.

The video clip of the Mexican Cycad Dioon merolae in Habitat

Canarius | Tuesday August 31st, 2010 |
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This cycad is native to the hills of this region in Central America. This video was produced by the students at the University of Chiapas in Mexico, and publlished in March 2010.
A great report about the wild cycad Dioon merolae in habitat in Chiapas, Mexico:

  • Distribution maps
  • Landscapes of desert areas in Mexico
  • Young and adult plants in habitat
  • Cone and seed production
  • Religious use for the Catholic church

This video is in Spanish, with subtitles in English.

Come and visit the cycad shop at www.canarius.com. We offer this species and many more and we ship to anywhere in Europe.

The video clip of the Cycad Dioon Merolae in Habitat

Subtropical Climate

Canarius | Tuesday May 11th, 2010 |
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Subtropical climates are non tropical climates with cool winters with little or no frosts. In subtropical climates, Winter is a noticeably cooler season. It is relatively warm, but never as hot as the summer season. These climates rarely, if ever, see frost or snow. Subtropical belts exist in both hemispheres and they are located just North and South of the tropics.

Rainfall patterns vary widely throughout the subtropics including hot deserts, savannas, monsoon forests, humid forests and the warmer parts of the Mediterranean climate zone. Subtropical regions include:

Typical House in Tenerife, with a Subtropical Kentia Palm and Potted Cacti

Northern Hemisphere: California, Texas, Florida, Canary Islands and Madeira, parts of the Mediterranean, northern India, southeast China, Southern Japan

Southern Hemisphere:  So. Brazil, N. Argentina, Parts of Chile, Uruguay, large parts of Australia and coastal South Africa (Mostly Natal)

Subtropical Climate in Europe

Europe has some Subtropical spots too in warmer, coastal areas within the mediterranean climate area. The climate in the Southern Mediterranean, with little or no frost , can be defined as Subtropical climate. This is the case of the coastal areas of Southern Portugal (Algarve), Southern Spain (Andalucia, Almeria, Murcia), Southern Italy (Sicilia, Calabria) and Southern Greece. Even cooler Subtropical areas can be found in Southern France (Cote d’Azur). Warmer spots are also found in the United Kingdom, precisely in the Isles of Scilly with 6 °C (42.8 °F) average in the coldest month. Of course there is a lot of difference between the Isles of Scilly and a typically hot subtropical climate like Florida. The English islands have a cooler, even climate reminiscent of the mountain climate in the warmer Subtropics.

The Canary Islands are located in the Subtropical belt too, very close to the tropics. The climate is frost-free on the coast, but it less hot than in many Subtropical areas because of the trade winds and the cold ocean. The Canaries are the only territory of Europe located straight into the subtropical belt.  Even here we do not have a typical subtropical climate, because our climate is also Mediterranean, because of the rainfall pattern and also Oceanic, because of the cooling effect of the sea.

Fruiting papaya in the Canary Islands

Exotic Gardens and Crops in Subtropical Climates

Many tropical species will tolerate the winter in the Subtropics and will grow outdoors. More than 500 palm species can live in Subtropical areas with little or no frost, exotic flowers such as Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia) or (Heliconia) and many Cycad species. The beautiful Bromeliad Family is a must in any garden. Hundreds of species of Succulent Plants from dry areas can grow and bloom as long as they are kept dry in winter. The dry subtropics include many of the world desert, so here is where most desert gardens are developed. Also the tropical succulent species will do fine, like Melocactus or Adenium and Pachypodium if kept well drained. Palm-like desert plants, such as Yucca and Dasylirion, thrive to perfection.

Melocactus conoideus grows outdoors on the Subtropical coast of Tenerife

Fully tropical species can grow in the Subtropics. They may slow down or stop in winter but most will grow reasonably well. Many tropical fruit trees grow freely. Mango, Papaya, Sugar Cane and Avocados are produced commercially in various subtropical regions of the world. Occasional frosts or short summers limit the spread of tropical horticulture in the Subtropics.

A blue leaved Cycad from the subtropical coast of South Africa, Encephalartos arenarius.

An impressive number of Palms and Cycads is kept by collectors. Many tropical flowers will winter outdoors. Bromeliads can be used freely as garden plants, as well as Heliconias. In lower latitudes, Cacti and Succulents are simply part of the landscape. Different species of Agave, mostly from Mexico, grow wild on the hillsides of Mediterranean Europe and Aloes flourish in pots and gardens. Large specimens will often enhance the garden of the villa, in the ground or in large pots. Southern Spain and Portugal are even sunnier, almost as Northern Africa so Cuban Royal Palms (Roystonea regia) and Royal Poincianas (Delonix regia) thrive in many coastal location, papayas will fruit with little effort.

With some protection and some effort you can grow subtropical plants in colder climates. Visit our blog section about Tropical Gardening in Northern Climates.

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Come to our shop and buy the best subtropical plants of all kinds. We ship to anywhere in Europe.

Neoregelia chlorosticta blooming with yellow and red leaves

Fabulous colours on the bromeliad Neoregelia chlorosticta, blooming with yellow and red leaves

Two time-lapse videos of Cycas revoluta producing new cones and new leaves

Canarius | Tuesday April 27th, 2010 |
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A male plant producing a cone. Bees visit and collect pollen.

Development of new fronds growing on Cycas revoluta

Cycas revoluta is the most widely cultivated of all cycads.

This is the taxonomy:

  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Division: Cycadophyta
  • Class: Cycadopsida
  • Order: Cycadales
  • Family: Cycadaceae
  • Genus: Cycas
  • Species: C. revoluta

In the shop at Canarius.com you will find many species of Cycas and Cycads in general.

LIST OF CYCADS IN THE CITES APPENDIX I

Canarius | Thursday January 7th, 2010 |
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Ceratozamia hildae, is in CITES appendix I

Ceratozamia hildae

These Cycad species are protected by law because they are endangered by the illegal trade. “CITES I” is the highest degree of protection. Some of them are available in our shop, all from legal trade, reproduced in artificial conditions.

List of Cycad species in the cites appendix I

  • CYCAS BEDDOMEI (CYCADACEAE)
  • MICROCYCAS CALOCOMA (ZAMIACEAE)
  • STANGERIA ERIOPUS (STANGERIACEAE)
  • CHIGUA (ZAMIACEAE): ALL SPECIES
    • Chigua bernalii – Chigua restrepoi
  • CERATOZAMIA (ZAMIACEAE): ALL SPECIES
    • Ceratozamia alvarezii – Ceratozamia hildae – Ceratozamia kuesteriana – Ceratozamia latifolia – Ceratozamia matudae – Ceratozamia mexicana
    • Ceratozamia microstrobila – Ceratozamia miqueliana – Ceratozamia mixeorum – Ceratozamia morettii – Ceratozamia norstogii – Ceratozamia robusta -Ceratozamia sabatoi – Ceratozamia whitelockiana – Ceratozamia zaragozae
  • ENCEPHALARTOS (ZAMIACEAE): ALL SPECIES
    • Encephalartos aemulans – Encephalartos altensteinii – Encephalartos aplanatus – Encephalartos arenarius – Encephalartos barteri – Encephalartos brevifoliolatus – Encephalartos bubalinus – Encephalartos caffer – Encephalartos cerinus – Encephalartos chimanimaniensis – Encephalartos concinnus – Encephalartos cupidus – Encephalartos cycadifolius – Encephalartos delucanus – Encephalartos dolomiticus – Encephalartos dyerianus – Encephalartos equatorialis – Encephalartos eugene-maraisii – Encephalartos ferox – Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi – Encephalartos ghellinckii – Encephalartos gratus – Encephalartos heenanii – Encephalartos hildebrandtii – Encephalartos hirsutus – Encephalartos horridus – Encephalartos humilis – Encephalartos inopinus – Encephalartos ituriensis – Encephalartos kisambo – Encephalartos laevifolius – Encephalartos lanatus – Encephalartos latifrons – Encephalartos laurentianus – Encephalartos lebomboensis – Encephalartos lehmannii – Encephalartos longifolius – Encephalartos mackenziei – Encephalartos macrostrobilus – Encephalartos manikensis – Encephalartos marunguensis – Encephalartos middelburgensis – Encephalartos msinganus – Encephalartos munchii – Encephalartos natalensis – Encephalartos ngoyanus – Encephalartos nubimontanus – Encephalartos paucidentatus – Encephalartos poggei – Encephalartos princeps – Encephalartos pterogonus – Encephalartos schaijesii – Encephalartos schmitzii – Encephalartos sclavoi – Encephalartos senticosus – Encephalartos septentrionalis – Encephalartos tegulaneus – Encephalartos transvenosus – Encephalartos trispinosus – Encephalartos turneri – Encephalartos umbeluziensis – Encephalartos villosus – Encephalartos whitelockii – Encephalartos woodii

CITES Species

Canarius | Tuesday January 5th, 2010 |
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C.I.T.E.S. is the “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora”; an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Living pandas, elephant tusks and rare orchids are all under this shield with many more species. Widespread information nowadays about the endangered status of many prominent species, such as the tiger and elephants, might make the need for such a convention seem obvious. But at the time when the ideas for CITES were first formed, in the 1960s, international discussion of the regulation of wildlife trade for conservation purposes was something relatively new. Many years have passed and illegal trade goes on. Europe has a flourishing black market and sudden inspections of producers, traders and collectors increased. The list of protected species is regularly revised every few years and you can find the latest on the CITES page of your government.

Encephalartos arenarius

Encephalartos arenarius is one of the many cycads protected by CITES I

Canarius at times offers plant species protected by CITES, in our sections of Cycads and Succulent Plants. These are all legal specimens, reproduced sustainably, with official papers available.

The new Cycads from China – Cold Hardy?

Canarius | Tuesday January 5th, 2010 |
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Many new cycad species have been recently introduced in cultivation from China. Some species grow tall, while others are low, trunkless understorey plants. Most of them are from high elevation areas or inland regions, subjected to regular frosts. Some of them are bipinnate cycads with unique “double feather” leaves .

Developing bipinnate leaf of Cycas multifrondis

Developing bipinnate leaf of Cycas multifrondis

The new species of Cycas from China

The genus Cycas has a large number of species in China. Most of them have not been cultivated in the western world until a few years ago, and various new species have been only recently described by botanists. Many are from cold or cool regions. Most species come from Yunnan, which is an inland region of Southern China of very high biological diversity. Yunnan is highly populated and agriculture has taken over the landscape. Thankfully, most cycads occur on rocky and hilly areas which are somehow conserved. The mining industry is threatening some species. Collection of adult specimens for ornamental purposes is also a problem in habitat. In our shop you can purchase many of these species of Cycas, all reproduced from legally purchased seeds.

The Bipinnate Cycads

Some Chinese species of Cycas have bipinnate (double-feather) leaves. These are very graceful, unusual leaves, reminiscent of ferns and little else in the plant kingdom. Many bipinnate cycads are easy, fast growers like Cycas debaoensis. Some others are slow and difficult.

Only one species of bipinnate cycad was known in Europe since the early XXth century and this was Cycas micholitzii. In recent years the new species from China reached the market and achieved incredible prices in the world seed trade.

A bipinnnate cycad leaf

A bipinnnate cycad leaf

Cold hardiness of some Chinese species

Cycas debaoensis tolerated about -8 C (17 F) in California. It is an easy species, that grows back very fast. Collectors noticed that a heavy mulch improves hardiness.

Cycas longipetiolula grows well in cool and wet conditions and is hardy to short, light frosts of -2 C.  Adult leaves are incredibly ornamental and fern-like, to about 4 m (12 ft.) tall.

Juvenile bipinnate leaf of Cycas longipetiolula

Juvenile bipinnate leaf of Cycas longipetiolula

Cycas multifrondis and Cycas multipinnata. Little or nothing is known about frost tolerance of these bipinnate cycas. Both are new and beautiful, fast, easy growing species. As we see, they prefer the cool, wet winters of the Canary Islands, rather than the hot and dry summer. Cycas multifrondis is especially graceful because of the wavy leaf margins.

Cycas panzihuahuensis is widely thought to be one of the most cold-hardy of all the cycads. It is grown outdoors in the United Kingdom. It takes about -9 C (16 F) and below. It will quickly come back if defoliated.

Cycas diannanensis is another frost hardy species. It grows at about 1200 m (4000 ft) asl, but the highest populations, known in the market as Cycas diannanensis Mountain Form, achieves 1800 m (5900 ft) asl. Once again, the species is so new to growers do not know how hardy it exactly is.

Cycas diannanensis underleaf

Frost-hardy Cycas diannanensis, from high mountains in China.

Cycas guizhouensis, from the province of Guizhou stands about -8 C (17 F). It is a small, robust cycad with flat, shiny grey-green leaves and narrow leaflets. It is native to Guizhou, Guanxi and Yunnan, in China, where it grows in scrubby open forests on steep limestone slopes. Cycas guizhouensis is an easy grower and does well in Mediterranean and warm temperate climates, as it can take moderate frosts.

Cycas guizhouensis easily grows outdoors in Mediterranean Climates. We ship these plants to Europe.

Cycas guizhouensis easily grows outdoors in Mediterranean Climates. We ship these plants to Europe.

All these species are new to many collectors and we will update the blog as soon as we learn more about their cold tolerance. We would like you to tell us your experiences with chinese cycads in your garden.

Try an increasing selection of chinese species in the Cycad section of our plant shop!