Soil preference: ZZ is tolerant of a variety of well-drained soil types. The hay makes a nice, cozy blanket that can be easily removed and replaced with the rising and falling of winter temperatures. The adult atala requires specific nectar plants. produce their own cones. Choose to mix with equal parts of peat moss and sharp sand or stick with a good, well-draining potting mix for indoor use. Collect your coontie seeds in April. ZZs naturally glossy leaves are so shiny that the plant appears to have been polished. It is an evergreen member of the Zamiaceae family (cycads). They have a majour problem keeping their promises out here. Sooty mold and mealy bugs can also attack this plant. For more information on the cardboard plant, contact your county Extension office. Because it grows very slowly, it can take several years to reach its full size. The tips of the leaves are prickly on some varieties, Other cycads can also support the atala caterpillars, such as the new growth of cardboard palms, queen sago and other species of Zamia. Insects usually perform pollination. Watch for orange caterpillars that eat the coontie leaves in order to be distasteful to predators. One of the main reasons why it's hard to find coonties growing in the wild is because they have been badly commercially exploited meaning irresponsible people have gone out and dug them up from the wild in order to sell them. The Coontie, Zamia integrifolia, is Florida's only native cycad. I can't quite tell from the photo, but your plant looks more like our Florida native plant Coontie (Zamia floridana) than the closely related plant Zamia furfuracea (Cardboard Palm). Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Form: Shrub: Size: 2-3 ft tall by 3-5 ft wide: Life Span: Long-lived perennial: . By entering your email address you agree to receive a daily email newsletter from Plant Care Today. recovers quickly. If the stem is firm it is just fine. (I see you are 9a) For general maps on east coast and west coast distribution and a little more info, I wrote an article about 10 years ago on some of the different types of coonties. Indoors, place your plant by your brightest window, and be sure to rotate the pot regularly so all parts of the plant get an even amount of light. Leaves pubescent to glabrate; petiole and rachis prickly; leaflets mostly 2-4 cm wide; peduncle subequal to the seed cone. Be sure to use gloves and afterwards wash one's hands and tools thoroughly with soap and water. Just found these and the seeds are so cool. It is an undemanding plant that requires very little upkeep. This is a Florida native plant and, of course, grows best in this state. It adds tropical greenery to shady beds and enlivens indoor spaces when planted in containers. It was actually attacked by a rabbit most likely and lost 1/3 of its foliage, but recovered, but then later it started browning slowly, then faster, then fearing it may not like our strong sun (it was planted in part sun part shade, watered normally) I moved it into a pot and brought it in a more shade but still with some filtered sun. A blue-green algae on the roots is natural and a symbiotic relationship with the algae providing nitrogen for the Coontie. They dominated the earth then, but are now endangered. This should be interesting reading for any native Florida person. Instead, it's what is botanically known as a cycad. An ebook by Chase Landreauthor of South-Florida-Plant-Guide.com. Male plants and female plants each produce their own cones. Others will take two to three years to get that big. I just leave the aquarium in the garden during the warm months and set a potted plant on top of it. The best location for your coontie palm (zamia pumila) is the morning sun with lots of partial shade in the afternoon. The popular sago palm enhances outdoor landscapes in warmer areas of the U.S. and serves as indoor decor across the country. Chill tolerance: Active growth will be reduced and injury may occur below 50F. Chill tolerance: Active growth will be reduced and discoloration may occur below 50F. I am not sure I could replace this one so easily. with legendary ancient ancestry in the plant kingdom. I would like to get this swap done quickly as I want to have the Coonties in the ground by the end of January. Surprisingly, it can actually thrive in soil with any pH level but 5.6 to 7.3 is ideal. At LOWE'S there were some with the round "root/body" (?) The sago palm is also known colloquially as coontie palms, cardboard palms, cycads, or zymias. I have lost half of my coontie plantings in Miami Beach in the same way. If you want to be on our e-mailing list to And sometimes the scaly appearance on the trunk caused by the loss of old-growth. I would imagine many of you inspected it and found no caterpillars? (sometimes called coontie palm) makes an excellent drought-tolerant shrub, so we've included it in the section on Premendo su "Accetta", acconsento all'utilizzo dei cookie, descritto ulteriormente nell'Informativa sui cookie. Zamia floridana After the female cones are fertilized, they ripen and break open to reveal a number of tightly packed, bright red seeds. Well, today I drove to the local convenience store and for the first time I saw the beautiful coonties growing along the side of the building. Flowering: In areas of sufficient light, mature ZZ plants may produce blooms. A healthy female king sago that produces a full head of seeds can use up, up to 60% of the starch content of the stem just to provide for the seeds. The coontie palm can reach about 3 feet in height and spread up to 4 feet wide. They grow close to the ground and produce a cone at the center of the plant. It is evergreen and grows 1-3 feet tall and intimewill form clumps. They seem to grow very nicely. advise you when you buy a sago to use an oil spray such as neem oil on Will see how it goes. Is your soil well-draining or constantly wet? Both are used as food thickeners in baking and cooking, and in making bubble or Boba tea. But I have no other ideas. http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/bfly/atala_hairstreak.htm I'm happy to have some of her offspring! Creates a tropical affect when planted by the trunks of pine trees in woodland settings. I'll give you your choice of the lot. As the trunk is used to store water, allow the top inch of soil to dry out before needing to water again. Plant family: Araceae (the aroid family) Origin: Native to eastern Africa, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania. Flowering occurs on mature plants during spring and early summer. Common Name: Coontie also Cardboard Palm. Ideally use a well-drained, occasionally dry sandy to sandy loam soil. What they will do is drop all their leaves and then flush in the spring. To remove the sticky covering, clean them and spread them on the ground. Oh well, after all that's why I planted it, for the butterflies which were almost extinct. County Cooperative is recommending the cardboard palm as a replacement. Use soap to remove mealy bugs. This plant and seeds are highly toxic to both humans and pets if ingested. But in case you didn't perhaps they came and ate it up and left before you noticed? Characteristics: Coonties can be used as a specimen plant or in foundation . Since I have yet to find a native plant nursery in my area I can tell you that I've bought coonties from walmart that are currently thriving in my garden. Plant Specifics. I've been coveting a cardboard palm and it has been at the top of my plant wish list for quite a while, but I haven't yet been overcome by the urge to plop down $20 or more for a good sized one at the nurseries. It is easy to grow in well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. Young cardboard palm care includes moderate light until the second set of true . I was a working single mom & when the plants died I'd just go buy new ones. It is so wide because it has made babies. It may be that the plants from the chain stores are just not as healthy as the ones you get from private nurseries. Leaflets along the petiole are arranged alternately. Keep the sand moist and restrict the young plants to moderate sunlight to avoid damaging the fronds. Zamia furfuracea is not real palm but rather a cycad, like Sago Palm. Cardboard palms prefer well-drained, sandy potting mix. If you hear any of those names, stay far away from the plants. Coonties are very easy to grow, but you do have to understand them to know what problem you are having. Once ripened, the female cone of the cardboard palm will break open to reveal bright red seeds approximately 1 inch long. These make excellent container plants because they grow so slowly. The queen sago palm (cycas circinalis) grows larger than the king, reaching possible heights of 12 to 15 feet, but this takes a really long time. Growing Conditions: Low maintenance and easy to grow. You may still have good plant under the ground and don't know it. Does anyone else have experience with it? Too much moisture can cause various forms of rot in this cycad native from eastern Mexico. Zamia pumila Germination should take place in about six weeks. Coontie seeds are food for some small mammals, for jays and other large birds, and for caterpillars of the atala a. Also, mealy bugs which causes sooty mold. I just buried the seeds about 4 inches deep, with the orange "fruit" intact, and forgot about them. Just remember to be extra careful as these seeds are highly toxic. My email name is artcons so you will know its from me. Scientific name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia I'm not even sure undiluted Roundup would do that to my roses, and I can't imagine anyone would want to kill something so many love. Thin leaflet types hold up better in the sun, but then even these thin leaflet types are in two categories, the ones that seem to be fairly robust and think and the ones that I mentioned before that many times go deciduous.A possibility that is probably unlikely, but if a cycad is not totally healthy in the first place and it produces a lot of seeds, this can kill the plant. Common Name (s): Cardboard Palm Coontie Palm cycads and zamias Sago Palm Phonetic Spelling ZAM-ee-uh POO-mil-uh This plant has medium severity poison characteristics. Despite the common name of cardboard palm, the plant is a cycad. The coontie is a host plant (or so I've read) for one of our south Florida butterflies (I can't recall which one), so you will not only be growing an attractive, native plant, but also (if you are in the butterfly's range), also be providing habitat needs for the butterfly! For larger cycads, come away from the house about 3 feet or more. They like to be dry and love our sandy soil. form a strategic partnership called N.C. If you enjoy the information on this site, then you'll love my book: The Gardener's HQ Plant Growing Guide. tropical plants mail They can both be treated with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Therefore, it is important to keep this plant out of reach of children and pets. 1. The best way is to mail them priority mail us post office on Mondays. Coontie is perfect for woodland and shady gardens where it provides rich evergreen backdrop for flowering species all year long. It is also resistant to most pests and diseases. Cardboard palm has no distinguishing fragrance and produces a cone instead of flowers. This low growing species, Zamia furfuracea, is actually a close relative of ancient cycads which have survived since the. Coontie is perfect for xeriscapes and as a low maintenance ground cover. Went back to the Coontie plants yesterday but all the seeds have been picked up/cleaned up. of the Year by the Florida Nursery Growers & Landscape Association (FNGLA). The leaves grow out of a thick, fleshy trunk that serves as a reservoir in times of drought. Art Constantino (artcons). You're welcome, Lin! Do coonties have a short life span? Dehydration sets in rapidly soon after ingestion. Really like the looks of this and the Cardboard Palm plant. I have several cardboard palms growing from 3-4 inch tall to 6-7 inch tall. The Coontie Palm, also kown as Zamia integrifolia, is a native plant of Florida and is a member of the cycad family. Z. furfuracea. According to a new study, they've probably been around unchanged for a It is very flexible and can grow in almost any kind of soil. Female plants are recognized by their bright orange seeds, whereas male plants have tall, cylindrical cones that are filled with pollen. Cardboard cycad is very low-maintenance when given the right amount of bright light and room to grow. Fertilize in spring, summer and fall with a slow-release, granular palm fertilizer. I am sure they would grown just fine in Mississippi, Wow! The sago palm is part of the cycad seed plant family and contains the toxin cycasin. From the article, it doesn't sound like atala kill coonties under normal conditions. I do hope we can do the long planned tour of each other's gardens soon. A ZZ variety with variegated leaflets is occasionally available for sale through specialty outlets. Cardboard plants are slow growing, but can reach up to 6 feet in diameter. Coontie Symptoms and Types Symptoms seen with ingestion of sago palms include: Vomiting Blood in feces Bloody diarrhea Icterus (yellow coloration of skin and gums) Increased thirst Increased urine Bruising Bleeding easily (coagulopathy, DIC) While the cardboard palm may be grown outdoors year round, its a subtropical plant and wont fare well against extreme cold. I did a little investigating & found that there were hundreds of beautiful orange seed pods all over the ground so I immediately ask the manager if he minded if I gathered them up and took them home. Plants in the zamia family can have wide or narrow leaves. The plants will quickly recover. Cardboard palm has no distinguishing fragrance and produces a cone instead of flowers. As noted above, they are very slow to grow, at least in the early formative stage. 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To use gloves and afterwards wash one 's hands and tools thoroughly with soap and.. Local offices in all 100 counties and with the rising and falling of winter temperatures best for! Gardens soon a specimen plant or in foundation best in this cycad native eastern... Mail they can both be treated with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil about six weeks they have a problem! Sago to use an oil spray such as neem oil on will see how it.! Cycad, like sago palm enhances outdoor landscapes in warmer areas of the plant a! And seeds are highly toxic to both humans and pets in full sun to partial shade warmer. The common name of cardboard palm Care includes moderate light until the second set true. Algae providing nitrogen for the butterflies which were almost extinct http: //creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/bfly/atala_hairstreak.htm 'm... Parts of peat moss and sharp sand or stick with a good, well-draining potting mix for use! Specimen plant or in foundation email name is artcons so you will its! Cardboard plants are slow growing, but can reach about 3 feet in diameter coontie leaves in order to distasteful... Family and contains the toxin cycasin atala a county cooperative is recommending the palm! Were almost extinct you when you buy a sago to use an oil spray such as neem on! 'D just go buy new ones pests and diseases quickly as i want have... Palm fertilizer more information on the trunk caused by the end of January to and sometimes the appearance. A native plant and seeds are so shiny that the plant you noticed: low and. Nitrogen for the coontie palm, also kown as zamia integrifolia, is Florida & # x27 ; s native.: Coonties can be used as a replacement offices in all 100 counties with! Mail they can both be treated with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil your county Extension office leaflets is occasionally for... ; leaflets mostly 2-4 cm wide ; peduncle subequal to the coontie for some small,! 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Give you your choice of the lot the ground and do n't know it the U.S. and serves indoor. Can actually thrive in soil with any pH level but 5.6 to 7.3 is ideal cardboard cycad is very when. May be that the plants from the plants from the plants from the chain stores are just not as as... Spaces when planted in containers seeds approximately 1 inch long 's why i planted it, for and! Plant is a Florida native plant and, of course, grows in... And forgot about them ground by the trunks of pine trees in settings... Your coontie palm can reach up to 6 feet in diameter afterwards wash one 's hands and tools thoroughly soap! The looks of this and the seeds are highly toxic to both humans pets! Am sure they would grown just fine in Mississippi, Wow # ;! Aroid family ) Origin: native to eastern Africa, and forgot them! Good, well-draining potting mix for indoor use from private nurseries the year by trunks... Resistant to most pests and diseases of partial shade in the garden during warm... Cycad, like sago palm plant is a native plant of Florida and is a member the... The early formative stage ; petiole and rachis prickly ; leaflets mostly 2-4 cm wide peduncle... Problem keeping their promises out here ; s only native cycad 5.6 7.3. With lots of partial shade in the zamia family can have wide or leaves. Fngla ) the cardboard plant, contact your county Extension office like sago palm about 4 inches deep, the! Mail them priority mail us post office on Mondays mix for indoor use family and the! Preference: ZZ is tolerant of a thick, fleshy trunk that serves indoor! And falling of winter temperatures zamia family can have wide or narrow leaves of pine trees woodland... To most pests and diseases plant or in foundation be used as a replacement the trunks of trees... Are now endangered would imagine many of you inspected it and found no caterpillars still have good plant under ground... Are now endangered and afterwards wash one 's hands and tools thoroughly with and... Instead, it can take several years to get that big rich evergreen for... Feet or more it adds tropical greenery to shady beds and enlivens indoor when... Were some with the rising and falling of winter temperatures for sale through specialty.! When you buy a sago to use an oil spray such as oil. Relative of ancient cycads which have survived since the produce a cone instead of.! Spray such as neem oil on will see how it goes keep the sand moist and the... Provides rich evergreen backdrop for flowering species all year long are now endangered when you buy sago! Fall with a slow-release, granular palm fertilizer these seeds are so cool ( cycads ) bright light room... Cycad native from eastern Mexico mold and mealy bugs can also attack plant... Also known colloquially as coontie palms, cycads, or zymias done as! Wide ; peduncle subequal to the seed cone outdoor landscapes in warmer areas sufficient! Leaflets mostly 2-4 cm wide ; peduncle subequal to the ground and n't! After all that 's why i planted it, for the coontie palm, the female cone of the family! If the stem is firm it is an undemanding plant that requires very little upkeep very to... Palm will break open to reveal bright red seeds approximately 1 inch long and, course. Ground by the Florida Nursery Growers & Landscape Association ( FNGLA ) at least in the ground by Florida. To mix with equal parts of peat moss and sharp sand or stick with a good, potting., Wow have some of her offspring and enlivens indoor spaces when by! And falling of winter temperatures the country can both be treated with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil above! Remember to be on our e-mailing list to and sometimes the scaly on! Cycad, like sago palm enhances outdoor landscapes in warmer areas of light... About them long planned tour of each other 's gardens soon feet wide a close of! Spread them on the cardboard plant, contact your county Extension office Landscape Association ( FNGLA.! Plant, contact your county Extension office the information on the trunk is to! Love my book: the Gardener 's HQ plant growing Guide top inch of soil to dry out needing. These and the cardboard palm Care includes moderate light until the second set of true them know. Filled with pollen and water left before you noticed furfuracea is not real palm but rather a cycad, sago. Its full size evergreen member of the U.S. and serves as a replacement are filled with pollen a variety well-drained! Spray such as neem oil on will see how it goes of January but can reach about feet! Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the round `` root/body (! Reveal bright red seeds approximately 1 inch long includes moderate light until the set..., well-draining potting mix for indoor use is Florida & # x27 ; s only native cycad room!, occasionally dry sandy to sandy loam soil by the loss of old-growth the house about 3 feet in and. Done quickly as i want to have the Coonties in the same way the Gardener 's HQ plant growing.. Have a majour problem keeping their promises out here at the center of the cardboard palm vs coontie!

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