Cycads   Lepidozamia peroffskyana in cultivation

Common Names:
Scaly Zamia

Natural Habitat:
Open rainforests of north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland.

Figure 1. A beautifully grown plant of L. peroffskyana .

Description:
A very attractive cycad, which can grow to about 6 metres (20 feet) high, with a slender trunk about 150 mm (6 ins) across. It has long, arching, pinnate leaves, up to 3 metres (10 feet) long, with glossy green leaflets, 150-300 mm (6-12 inches long), and 20 mm (3/4 in) wide. Spent leaves persist, but are easily removed.

The male cones are about 600 mm (2 feet) long, female cones up to 800 mm (2.5 feet) long, and producing bright red oval seeds, 50 mm (2 in) long.

Culture:
This is a very easily grown, attractive, and popular cycad for sub-tropical areas. It prefers a moist, well drained, lightly shaded thru to full sun position. It does develop a nice bronze tinge in sunny areas, while it simply ceases growing if given too much shade.

Figure 2. Two L. peroffskyana coning, with both male and female cones.

Contributed by:

Rachel Welsh (Figures 1&2).