I'm so happy!!! 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. Also known as Zamia pumila, Zamia floridana. Coontie (Zamia pumila), also called the arrowroot, is a palm-like perennial with fine, fern-like leaves that grows up to 3 feet tall. Trunks can branch several times, thus producing multiple heads of leaves. Plant in a well-drained area, since cycad plants don't like "wet feet." For the larger cycads, plant at least 3 feet or more apart to allow for the expansive growth (eventually) of the long "fronds.". Heres everything you need to know about growing and caring for a thriving Coontie Palm. General Information. Scientific name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia. The plant is toxic to humans and pets. It's one tough cookie - perfect for dry areas, cold tolerant, not choosy as to light - yet it provides an appealing fine-textured look. Once the seedling has emerged, it will look nothing like your adult plant. It is about 50, yes 50 Atala butterfly caterpillars. Coontie Palm, Cardboard Palm, Sago Palm: Plant Type : Perennial: Flower Color: Does not produce flowers: Size When Mature: 36-48 Inches: Bloom Time: Does produce fruits or flowers: Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Full Shade: USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11: Soil PH Range: 5.6 to 7.3: Soil Type: Sandy loam, well-draining: Water Needs: Low . Perhaps conditions in the first two years are key to the survival of a newly planted specimen. Note that ZZ is a slow-growing plant even under favorable production conditions. although if I'm not mistaken, the latter plant does not support the butterflies. I would like to grow some but it seems that the ones to buy are from south America. OK Kids, here it is. full sun to part shade (dioon prefers some shade). Full sun benefits the plant best during its growing season and while young, but it can still thrive in partial sunlight. Root rot may occur if plants are grown in poorly aerated, compacted soil with excessive water for an extended period of time. Coontie palms are quite drought-tolerant once established but will appreciate a little extra water during extended periods of dry weather. Growing Conditions: Low maintenance and easy to grow. You may be interested in receiving great tropical plants mail Send me your address and how many you want via Dmail and I will get them out to you on Monday or Tuesday, depending on how fast I get your reply. And how to sow? Jeremy, Botanyguy, I was very interested in your post above about the "Palatka Giant" var of coontie. Coontie is a very hardy, slow-growing cycad that works well as a superb, low-maintenance shrub. If you have a spare plant, I would love to have one. It works well as a transition plant near larger specimens. Art, Hey Jeremy, Keep the flats in a room with a temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 C) or higher and partial sunlight. This is a deadly plant and it only takes a small amount (two seeds) to make your dog ill, and just four seeds can be fatal. Posted: June 11, 2017. Zamia augustifolia, Florida native, Cardboard palm gets it's name from its tough, hard leaves. I will dig up so you will have a decent one to start with. Plant Specifics. These plants were well established last year and looked good all year; now they look very bad. According to a new study, they've probably been around unchanged for a Scientific name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia It is a slow-growing palm that can reach up to 5 feet in height and has glossy, dark green leaves. ZZ plant is often used as a pseudo-bonsai. Find Out Today, Can An Avocado Tree Grow In A Pot (yes + How To). I have 3 cardboard palms in my backyard. The plant has a short, sometimes underground trunk up to 20 cm . I'll give you your choice of the lot. Likewise, the plant doesnt require frequent grooming, with dying leaves being removed as needed. I found an article about them on the University of Florida website (linked below). The plant will thrive for some months, then within a period of a few days will suddenly collapse, turn brown and die. It is listed as commercially exploited by the state of Florida. A cardboard palm can grow 5 feet tall and wide, though it takes many years. It is also resistant to most pests and diseases. It is a slow-growing plant that is native to Florida and can only reach up to 4 feet in height. If it is a cardboard palm you have, I would love to have some of the seeds if you have any to share! Another problem is that developers will come in and completely clear property of all native vegitation whether or not it is a plant that is threatened or endangered. Looking forward to a good Coontie crop. among the most eye-catching landscape plants in South Florida. So give it some room. The native cycad is also the larvae of the uncommon Atala butterfly's main feeding source. Each 20 to 59 inch leaf holds 6 to 12 stiff blue-green fuzzy leaflet pairs measuring roughly 3 to 8 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide. But you are welcome to a few if ya need. Looking like a cross between a small palm and a big fern, cycads play an The best fertilizer to use on a Coontie Palm is a granular and organic fertilizer. Other cycads include Coontie Palm and Sago Palm (neither of these are really palms!) I have never watered or fertilized them. However, sometimes it does produce a trunk, but it doesn't grow high and remains between 1 . The process is relatively simple, whether you move to a pot or an outdoor setting. The cardboard palm requires bright light to grow properly. No one knew which way is the correct way. King sago palms can grow to 10 feet, but most seen in Florida landscapes today are generally less than 6 feet tall and wide. that like to dry out between waterings: orange bird of paradise, These make excellent container plants because they grow so slowly. Soil preference: ZZ is tolerant of a variety of well-drained soil types. They are even in the median in DeLeon Springs and they get mowed down every year. I will send you the largest one's I have. I saw it just this morning, from a distance it looked like the plant was turning brown and dying when it was so lush and green last week. Do you water or irrigate? This seems to happen after the seed pods burst open and drop their red seeds on the ground. It enjoys sandy loam and well-draining soil. The compound leaves grow from a thickunderground stem and unfurl like a fern. In young plants the stem is bulb-like, but develops into a stem or trunk as it grows older. Identification Key. Keep these tips in mind, Are keepsakes cluttering your space and your life? Getting to its maximum of 10 feet can take as long as 50 years. Silver Saw Palmetto, It has a wealth of great information! COONTIE, OR ZAMIA INTEGRIFOLIA. I planted my seeds under the banana tree on top of the soil and then threw an extra helping of mulch and leaves on the seeds and they pop up pretty qucik, for coonties that is. Went back to the Coontie plants yesterday but all the seeds have been picked up/cleaned up. :), I decided to do a Google search for my own edification in regard to the relationship between the S. E. Florida butterfly (turns out to be named the Coontie Hairstreak - Eumaeus atala) and the coontie plant. The popular sago palm enhances outdoor landscapes in warmer areas of the U.S. and serves as indoor decor across the country. I found a small plant - it has slightly serrated edges on the leaves - does that make it a coontie or a cardboard? Needless to say I filled 4 shoe boxes with these babies. Its feather-like foliage grows out in a symmetrical ring. Any ideas out there would be much appreciated! Also they don't care if it's sunny or shady. However, for those who wish to help with propagation, first remove offsets and transplant them into pots away from mother plants; as the parent plant emits a chemical that eliminates competing seedlings. It can survive extreme temperatures but does well in USDA zones 8 to 11. 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. It is evergreen and grows 1-3 feet tall and intimewill form clumps. As with many plants, the amount of watering will vary depending on the time of year. Your cycad is indeed a coontie. Thanks. : Help Your Plant Bloom, How Long Does It Take Clover to Bloom? The N.C. striking foliage and, once established, requires little water or maintenance, helping explain why it was named a 2007 Florida Plant Cardboard plant, known scientifically as Zamia furfuracea, has been around since the time of the dinosaurs and remains a great plant for Florida landscapes. The leaves grow out of a thick, fleshy trunk that serves as a reservoir in times of drought. Is your soil well-draining or constantly wet? The way to tell now would be to dig down with your hands and see if the main stem, (or caudex)is hard or if it is mushy or rotted totally. So, if you are looking for a resilient, low-maintenance plant to add to your landscape, the Coontie palm is definitely a great choice. Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status. To remove the sticky covering, clean them and spread them on the ground. Capping an old aquarium over plants also works for a mini-greenhouse/bell jar. Leaves pubescent to glabrate; petiole and rachis prickly; leaflets mostly 2-4 cm wide; peduncle subequal to the seed cone. As the trunk is used to store water, allow the top inch of soil to dry out before needing to water again. Loulu Palm Trees (Pritchardia spp.) These plants will grow very fast. goes - for over 200 million years, at a time when dinosaurs trampled or It kept on browning all leaves browned and all stems browned and dried. 3. The most commonly used varieties are coontie palm (zamia pumila) and cardboard palm (zamia furfuracea) - pictured below - partly because they're two of the smaller cycad varieties. The seeds have a very short viability period, making them difficult to propagate. I agree about plopping down $20 for a plant you are not sure will work for you (or for just about any plant unless it is something I think that I've gotta have or can't face another day -- which turns out to be how I feel about most plants . LOL). Coontie. One of the coontie clumps I have growing on my property came from a private home owners property that I had gone to to pick up a load of rocks from. Hope this will help, Hi Nancy, If you can, you ought to send up a picture of your whole cardboard palm to show them how big it can get. I'm happy to have some of her offspring! They are native to Florida, but there are several varieties. This plant is found in most nurseries and even the garden sections of home improvement stores. important role as easy-care plants that provide elegant form and An example is that now I have a dead Washingtonia Robusta and a majour nursery in Lexington, SC will not respect their one year warranty (that ends in a few days) and will not replace the dead one with a good one. Wash the seed under running water to . You might consider contacting Fairchild. Good going lluck. 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Florida Arrowroot is a low-growing woody plant in the cycad family and is native to Florida. You made one of my Christmas wishes come true! Some of it has to be from the 20's, or so, as is the house is that old and the clumps are massive. I will swap one for one. As they are susceptible to damage from ovipositing female Atala butterflies (atalas), young plants may need to be protected by covering them with tomato cages and netting. Fertilizer requirements: ZZ is a slow-growing plant, even under favorable conditions. Creates a tropical affect when planted by the trunks of pine trees in woodland settings. By entering your email address you agree to receive a daily email newsletter from Plant Care Today. I would gladly swap you cardboard palms for coontie's. I have several cardboard palms growing from 3-4 inch tall to 6-7 inch tall. Hi, Artcons. Neutral: On May 30, 2004, foodiesleuth from Honomu, HI (Zone 11) wrote: I surprises me to see see the warnings about not overwatering or to . Coonties are very expensive and difficult to find down here. I am working on that in micropropagation. Their Florida population has been listed as endangered by the State of Florida, but re-colonizing attempts from the Bahaman population is yielding positive results. ZZs naturally glossy leaves are so shiny that the plant appears to have been polished. Robinia pseudoacacia (2 n =20) The black locust (or false acacia) is widely naturalized throughout North America, where the borer Megacyllene robiniae has restricted commercial plantings to erosion control, land stabilization, and as postwood. Some cycads stay low to the ground all their lives. grazed on them. Origin: Native to eastern Africa, Kenya, South Africa, and Tanzania. Coonties, from my experience growing them and visiting many places that have them planted in TOUGH and demanding situations (i.e: Melbourne Beach on 192 and Sebastian Inlet) live for many many years. Jeremy. I will have to go out now and buy some more :). Jeremy, The coontie is host for the Atala butterfly. This plant is mainly propagated by seeds. It sounds like you have some really interesting stuff and are doing some great experiments. Just got back from MN a couple days ago and the Coontie seeds are still in the van! Coontie is perfect for xeriscapes and as a low maintenance ground cover. Loulu palm trees are native to Hawaii and vary in size from tall trees that can reach 50 ft. (15 m) tall to small or dwarf trees that reach up to 16 ft. (5 m) tall. Edit..yes, actually I have grown one from seed, or at least God did. Chris, I've had success with overwintering plants the heighth of cardboard palms in the ground with a hefty, heavy mulch of hay. Common names: ZZ plant, aroid palm, African coontie, arum fern, cardboard palm Water again like your adult plant i filled 4 shoe boxes with these babies all the seeds if have... ; leaflets mostly 2-4 cm wide ; peduncle subequal to the ground it older! 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