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Encephalartos natalensis (Natal Giant Cycad) - This tall cycad can have stems of up to 20 feet tall by 16 inches thick. It is usually solitary but can grow in clumps. Cones are yellow with the oblong female cones often numbering 3 to 4 per stem and having red seeds while the smaller cylindrical male cones often numbering 4 to 5 on each stem. Young leaves have white silky hairs and mature into large 3 to 10 foot long by foot wide glossy green leaves. No other Encephalartos has such a wide variation in foliage and cone sizes - at least seven forms have been distinguished.
Plant in full sun to light shade where it has low water needs and is hardy to about 25 degrees F. An attractive tall growing cycad in the garden.
Encephalartos natalensis grows in a wide swath within South Africa from the northern part of the Eastern Cape, through most of KwaZulu-Natal in the north where it grows on cliffs, in forests, and on rocky outcrops at around 4,000 feet in elevation. The name for the genus comes from Greek words 'en' meaning "within", 'kephali' meaning "head" and 'artos' meaning "bread" or "bread in head" which is a reference to the use of the starchy substance in the trunks of some species in times of desperation by African native tribes with the specific epithet referencing the Natal area. Encephalartos natalensis is most closely related to Encephalartos altensteinii and until 1951 was included in what was called the Encephalartos altensteinii complex. A primary difference is that Encephalartos natalensis has sharp reduced lower leaflets that Encephalartos altensteinii lacks.
The information displayed on this page about Encephalartos natalensis is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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