Hello everyone. I found this cute little plant on a sale table for $5. It didn't have any info with it and I would love to take care of it properly. It looks like a small palm to me, but I am not sure. Does anyone have any ideas what it may be? I am trying to attach a pic.
Agree with Cycas revoluta, which is of course a cycad, not a palm It should just about be hardy outdoors in SC if you're close to the coast (but not any distance inland), but it needs excellent drainage - wet roots in winter will kill it more easily than frost
Carol Ja ... How did you get your Cycad to over winter, and how long have you had it planted? These have been near impossible for most of us in the region. kalisgirl ... These are very ancient plants & more closely related to conifers than palms. Enjoy your new Cycad. Cheers, LPN
Hi, Kalisgirl. I just saw your post, which I missed last month. One more hint for taking care of your cycad -- keep it always oriented in the same direction (e.g. north) otherwise the leaves will start to twist out of shape as they reach for the light, and will lose their symmetry. Maybe you will get hooked on cycads, as I did, after I purchased my first one. --Lori
Sorry Barrie, I didn't see your question until just now, I cover my Cycad in straw for the winter, seems just fine. Its been in the ground for a few years now. Warm sunny semi sheltered spot. Salt Spring doesn't get as much winter rain as Vancouver, so maybe thats the difference. That or I've just been really lucky. Carol
Carol, I assume along with a straw mulch, you have some sort of rain canopy? You know, to keep the straw dry and from promoting rot etc? I'd wager that SS Isl probably gets half the rain the North Shore does. I think we're running about 38" - 42" average per year here around Lantzville / North Nanaimo. Cheers, LPN. (Barrie)
Nope no rain cover, but I did have a layer of large maple leaves go in first. I don't have a measurement for how much rain we get, I just know my sister in Vancouver gets rain twice as often as me.
