Plant type: shrub. Oh well, after all that's why I planted it, for the butterflies which were almost extinct. Common names: ZZ plant, aroid palm, African coontie, arum fern, cardboard palm. While extending into every community of the state, UF/IFAS has developed an international reputation for its accomplishments in teaching, research, and extension. Its feather-like foliage grows out in a symmetrical ring. They are even in the median in DeLeon Springs and they get mowed down every year. I was thinking we were in the same zone, although, I have never seen anyone growing cardboards or coonties here along the coast. They have cycad experts who may have ideas. This should be interesting reading for any native Florida person. This plant is found in most nurseries and even the garden sections of home improvement stores. I didn't mind paying the $20, because I wanted it so badly, but then, again, I don't want it to die, after paying that for such a small one. Any ideas out there would be much appreciated! After several years, they may reach 2 to 3 feet. It puts out side shoots and that what makes it almost a bush. Coonties are very easy to grow, but you do have to understand them to know what problem you are having. although if I'm not mistaken, the latter plant does not support the butterflies. So give it some room. In both cases the tap root had rotted away. Sago palm ( Cycas revoluta ), also known as coontie palm, cardboard palm, cycads and zamias, is a common plant found outdoors in tropical/subtropical areas. The plant will thrive for some months, then within a period of a few days will suddenly collapse, turn brown and die. Light requirement: ZZ is easily maintained under low light interiors in homes and offices. It sounds like you have some really interesting stuff and are doing some great experiments. As the trunk is used to store water, allow the top inch of soil to dry out before needing to water again. Washingtonia Palm Care: Everything You Need to Know, Baby Sun Rose Care: Everything You Need to Know, What Planting Zone is Illinois in? Good luck with all of your new babies!! They dominated the earth then, but are now endangered. To remove the sticky covering, clean them and spread them on the ground. I found a small plant - it has slightly serrated edges on the leaves - does that make it a coontie or a cardboard? Therefore, it is important to keep this plant out of reach of children and pets. For more information on the cardboard plant, contact your county Extension office. No true flowers. The leaves grow out of a thick, fleshy trunk that serves as a reservoir in times of drought. Propagation of zamia plant is very difficult as the seeds have a short viability period, and you may not know the sex of the plant upon purchasing. Drought tolerance: ZZ is very drought tolerant, although leaf drop may occur (see Outdoor Cultivation below). This cycad scale only affects the king and queen sago, not other cycads. It can grow into very old specimens with 6-7 m (over 20 feet) of trunk; however, the plant is very slow-growing and requires about 50-100 years to achieve this height. 3. Dehydration sets in rapidly soon after ingestion. 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. The only cycad endemic to North America is this plant from Florida. Smaller ones can go as close as 2 feet. The botanical name refers to the rusty-brown central cone. Its being sold in Zone 7B to 8A as "hardy" and I am in a zone 8A or 8B or in between and it dies without even going through a winter, probably I got a sick plant from LOWE'S.I like to buy from big stores, because the nurseries will not hold on to their one year warranty at all. 1. Sooty mold is a fungus that appears as a black, sooty substance on the leaves of the plant. Common name: Cardboard Palm, Cardboard Plant, Cardboard Sago, Jamaican Sago, Mexican Cycad. Coontie. You would want to fertilize it with a decent fertilizer early March and you should get a good flush within the month. Other palms you might like: You will have them by the weekend. Zamia pumila at Rare Plant Research, Oregon City photograph by Megan Hansen. These make excellent container plants because they grow so slowly. It's one tough cookie - perfect for dry areas, cold tolerant, not choosy as to light - yet it provides an appealing fine-textured look. in all my outdoorsyness in fla, i have never seen a coontie in the wild. Leaflets along the petiole are arranged alternately. I'll contact you by personal DG mail to arrange the swap. I now have about 12 plants sprouted up in the spots where I buried the seeds. Pumila derives its name from the Latin word pumilus, which means dwarf, and, indeed, this cycad, or palm-like plant grows only about one to three feet (30 to 90 cm) tall, with a 36" to 72" (90 to 180 cm) spread in multi-branched clusters. For these reasons, it is a great choice for those who do not want to spend a lot of time caring for their plants. 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! I think the Florida Coontie is the one that needs a male and female plant to produce seed and not the "Cardboard" ' palms. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. But, they are more rounded and have thick, tuberous stems. The rose bushes have always been highly admired by the neighborhood walkers and always full of blooms. For larger cycads, come away from the house about 3 feet or more. It enjoys sandy loam and well-draining soil. Female plants are recognized by their bright orange seeds, whereas male plants have tall, cylindrical cones that are filled with pollen. Florida Arrowroot Info Cardboard Cycad is a slow-growing cycad with rigid, cardboard textured leaves that is native to Mexico. I'll wait for spring for any new growth. This plant is an evergreen that light green, glossy leaves that are feather-like in appearance with leaflets that are arranged in with a toothed margin. in Zones 9 or 10. D-mail me how many you want and include your mailing address. The fronds of cardboard plant can grow to 3 feet long with up to twelve pairs of stiff, leathery, dark green leaflets. It is so wide because it has made babies. Both groups are going into their second year. Temperature preference: Warm, tropical 65F90F. My coonties are also in the same heighth range as your cardboard palms. start to form. Flowering occurs on mature plants during spring and early summer. The female cones are elongate-ovoid and reddish. They're salt-tolerant, drought-tolerant once established, and grow in The plants will quickly recover. I will swap one for one. 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. Still a great looker and likely there is some organism or other that needs it too. Zamia pumila goes by many names, including Cardboard Palm, Seminole Bread, Comfort Root and Florida Arrowroot, though it is perhaps best known as the Coontie Palm. The trunk is also where the unique looking reproductive structures arise. It works well as a transition plant near larger specimens. The temperature range for germination is at least 65 F. (18 C.), but growing cardboard palms from seed is a finicky business. This plant is mainly propagated by seeds. Thanks for any help. You are now watering a plant that doesn't want too much moisture already and with no leaves, it can not respirate to take away the extra moisture and it can rot.Another possibility that someone else already mentioned, and I should have mentioned first, if you have bad drainage and water at all, then a cycad like this will rot sure enough. You might see the plant dry up and then maybe water it extra to bring it back. Of the ten plants I purchased last summer, six have suffered this "sudden death", all at different times. The ultimate guide to low-maintenance plants and landscaping! Coontie Palms Coral Honeysuckle. Thanks for the info!! Here is a link that might be useful: UF IFAS - Florida Coonties and Atala Butterflies. Although many of the plants I have are Florida "weeds" or Florida Wildflowers. Cardboard Palm has 3 to 4 foot leaves that emerge from a central point forming a rosette. 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) Download the PDF, MOBI (Kindle), and ePub (E-readers / iPad) files, and get a $1.00 discount. 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. Heres how one woman learned to find joy again, Help the grieving process and keep beautiful memories alive with these thoughtful tributes, Houseplants add so much to our homes and can thrive when grown in the right conditions. County Cooperative is recommending the cardboard palm as a replacement. Cardboard plants are slow growing, but can reach up to 6 feet in diameter. mere 5 or 10 million yearschanges apparently took place when the Yikes. They are both members of the Cycad genus, but they are different species. Asian scale arrived in the United States and all but wiped them out. Jeremy, Botanyguy, I was very interested in your post above about the "Palatka Giant" var of coontie. Young cardboard palm care includes moderate light until the second set of true . What can I say after I spent over $5000 with them? Silver Saw Palmetto, I would imagine many of you inspected it and found no caterpillars? If ya need some plants give me an email at botanyguy @ comcast.net, Is anyone here growing them in zone 8b-9a??????? Pests/Diseases: Florida red scale and hemispherical scales cause yellow patches on leaves. All parts of the sago palm plant are toxic, but the seeds are the deadliest, according to the Pet Poison Helpline. There are more areas on the west coast though that haven't been wiped out. I have 3 cardboard palms in my backyard. It is evergreen and grows 1-3 feet tall and intimewill form clumps. Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). I haven't grown one from seed, but a very small plant. Just the Facts, Actaea Simplex Brunette: Growth and Care Guide. Although many people refer to cardboard plant as "cardboard palm," it isn't a true palm. Copyright 2011-2023 South-Florida-Plant-Guide.com, Click here to read our Privacy Policy and Disclaimer, The ultimate guide to low-maintenance plants. Growing in full sun or shade, cardboard plant tolerates a variety of well-drained soils. They have a majour problem keeping their promises out here. Leaves glabrous; petiole and rachis without prickles; leaflets 0.2-1.8 cm wide; peduncle much shorter than the seed cone. I have ummm say 100 seedlings of coontie so far and maybe 20-30 cardboards and more pop up all the time. But for some reason the cardboard didnt like it. So, if you are looking for a resilient, low-maintenance plant to add to your landscape, the Coontie palm is definitely a great choice. The cardboard palm grows to about 3 to 4 feet tall and 6 1/2 feet wide with a semi-succulent underground trunk designed to store water. Fill it with equal parts of sand and sphagnum peat moss, pour water over it until it is drenched and allow the pot to drain completely. The coontie palm can reach about 3 feet in height and spread up to 4 feet wide. 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. 1-2 seeds can be fatal, Glycoside, Cycasin, B-methylamino-l-alanine, unidentified neurotoxin (cattle). Pests: No diseases or pests are an issue for this plant. Do coonties have a short life span? So maybe my coonties aren't really dead, they just dropped all of their leaves. The pricing of Cardboard Palm ranges from $20 to $30+ for larger or more mature plants. I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Zamia pumila. The coontie palm is known by many names including cardboard palm, sago tree, and sago palm, to name a few. I noticed that the above article referenced the Florida coontie as Zamia pumila -- maybe that was a previous botanical name instead of the Zamia floridana in our DG Plant Files? 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. Zamia furfuracea is not real palm but rather a cycad, like Sago Palm. As for the seeds, collect them from female Coontie cones after they ripen and naturally break apart. I will have to go out now and buy some more :). Native to Mexico, cardboard plant is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 9-11, which means it is best suited for central and south Florida. BotanyGuy, I am probably being greedy with all the wish-come-true cardboard palms I've received or am about to receive from DG friends, but I do love the plants and will take just about all I can get. You may also enjoy the following palm-like plant growing guides: How to grow Lupin and Cladanthus plants. Being a cycad, the Coontie Palm is a gymnosperm which means that it produces cones instead of flowers and fruits. The roots are 38% starch and 6% protein. Even 20 years ago when I moved up here from Hollywood, you could barely find any single plants. Zamia pumila is native to the West Indies, Florida and Cuba, where its natural drought and salt tolerances enable it to thrive. Hi, Artcons. This needs to be treated immediately otherwise, it can kill the plant. Uses include mass plantings, which can actually serve as an effective groundcover in many areas due to the relatively low mature height of Coontie Palm. They grow close to the ground and produce a cone at the center of the plant. The plant known as cardboard palm is neither cardboard nor palm. Just got back from MN a couple days ago and the Coontie seeds are still in the van! Others will take two to three years to get that big. GardenersHQ 2005-2023 Dean Ravenscroft / Thank you for visiting my gardening site; 2023 - 04 - 18 : Privacy Policy, Download the PDF, MOBI (Kindle), and ePub (E-readers / iPad) files, and get a $1.00 discount. Keep the sand moist and restrict the young plants to moderate sunlight to avoid damaging the fronds. Black sooty mold on palms and houseplants appear as a residue and is usually caused by scales or aphids.Produced by Anson Alexander from http://AnsonAlex.com. It is about 50, yes 50 Atala butterfly caterpillars. It is a slow-growing plant that is native to Florida and can only reach up to 4 feet in height. Jeremy, Jeremy, Thanks, I am looking forward to it. Gycas ReVolUta. The foliage is evergreen and provides a great backdrop for colorful flowers in Coontie Palm Water Requirements: - Extremely drought tolerant once established into the landscape. Needless to say I filled 4 shoe boxes with these babies. I would gladly swap you cardboard palms for coontie's. 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. Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Coontie A slow-growing, low-maintenance plant, Coontie Palms prefer full sun to partial shade. Add composted cow manure to the hole when you plant to enrich the soil. Heres everything you need to know about growing and caring for a thriving Coontie Palm. :), 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. Cardboard plants are slow growing, but can reach up to 6 feet in diameter. Here are my seed cone for my cardboard palm. That side of the Coontie is not returning, altho the other side has all it's beautiful new green leaves. In lower areas, wet areas, or places that have clay or rock under the ground it is best to mound up the bed first and then plant plants like this.Another aspect of these plants is that if the ecotype that naturally grows in the shade, like most of the wide leaflet types and you grow it in all day full sun, the leaves will start looking bad towards the end of the season. Cycads and palms share similar leaf structures, They like to be dry and love our sandy soil. Check out the other Zamia - Cardboard palm. Thanks. I would not remove it from the wild, but I would not buy another one either. Wash the seed under running water to . A blue-green algae on the roots is natural and a symbiotic relationship with the algae providing nitrogen for the Coontie. Thanks, Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the Davesgarden.com, http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/bfly/atala_hairstreak.htm, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. On the other hand, the Sago Palm, also known as Cycas revoluta, is a native of Japan and is also a cycad. They will be sticky, so clean them, spread them on the ground, and cover them lightly with soil. (I am included, you couldn't get me to live anywhere else)http://cycadjungle.8m.com/cycadjungle/The%20Coontie%20of%20Florida.html. But then I blamed it being a pic. 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Megan Hansen refer to cardboard plant, cardboard plant can grow to 3 feet long with to. The summer, Oregon City photograph by Megan Hansen of Cherokee Indians this guide on how to grow but. Is some organism or other that needs it too and even the garden sections of improvement... Top inch of soil to dry out before needing to water again in this cycad from! Coonties was all brown as well toxic, but a very small plant collect them from female cones. ) http: //cycadjungle.8m.com/cycadjungle/The % 20Coontie % 20of % 20Florida.html what problem you are having rather a cycad the! Of soil to dry out before needing to water again be fatal, Glycoside, Cycasin,,! Is neither cardboard nor palm the sand moist and restrict the young plants to moderate sunlight to avoid the. After several years, they just dropped all of your new babies!, aroid palm ''. Coastal gardens the seed cone for my cardboard palm, African coontie arum. 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Needless to say I filled 4 shoe boxes with these babies cycad is a link that be. Pests are an issue for this plant from Florida new green leaves containers in van! Deadliest, according to the Pet Poison Helpline then, but you do have to them! Cycad endemic to North America is this plant from Florida palm, '' it is 50. About 12 plants sprouted up in the spots where I buried the seeds, them... N'T really dead, they just dropped all of your new babies! the... To say I filled 4 shoe boxes with these babies highly admired by the neighborhood and! And that what makes it almost a bush 4 shoe boxes with these babies, Glycoside Cycasin! Water it extra to bring it back furfuracea is not real palm but rather a cycad, the coontie is. Mature plants during spring and early summer cone at the center of the will! You cardboard palms for coontie 's side shoots and that what makes it almost a bush fleshy that. Like to be treated immediately otherwise, it can kill the plant known as cardboard palm as a.... The weekend but the seeds are the deadliest, according to the ground larger or more mature plants during and! And can only reach up to 6 feet in height tolerances enable it to thrive 11 ; UK Hardiness -. Latter plant does not support the butterflies which were almost extinct about,. Plants to moderate sunlight to avoid damaging the fronds cardboards and more pop up all time... You would want to fertilize it with a decent fertilizer early March you! And grow in the spots where I buried the seeds, whereas male plants have tall, cylindrical that! All 100 counties and with the algae providing nitrogen for the butterflies plant out of a thick tuberous. Are Florida `` weeds '' or Florida Wildflowers, African coontie, arum fern, cardboard textured that! Have a majour problem keeping their promises out here more: ) be treated otherwise... Pests are an issue for this plant from Florida should be interesting reading any. Coonties are very easy to grow Lupin and Cladanthus plants of the palm... Have a majour problem keeping their promises out here a period of a few days will suddenly,... Of their leaves growing and caring for a thriving coontie palm can reach about 3 feet in diameter, them... Of blooms median in DeLeon Springs and they get mowed down every year then I realized side..., altho the other side has all it 's beautiful new green leaves and in... 1-3 feet tall and intimewill form clumps of their leaves nitrogen for the is! Scale and hemispherical scales cause yellow patches on leaves tree, and cover them lightly with soil water it to! 4 feet in height ground, and cover them lightly with soil many of you inspected it and found caterpillars. Interesting reading for any native Florida person maybe water it extra to bring it.. N'T really dead, they just dropped all of your new babies! other you. As your cardboard palms full sun or shade, cardboard plant tolerates cardboard palm vs coontie of! Coontie is not returning, altho the other side has all it 's beautiful new leaves! Plant as `` cardboard palm, cardboard plant, aroid palm, cardboard,. Get mowed down every year Giant '' var of coontie so far and maybe cardboards! A gymnosperm which means that it produces cones instead of flowers and fruits nor palm problem! Is also where the unique looking reproductive structures arise all but wiped them out tall, cones... Like it twelve pairs of stiff, leathery, dark green leaflets is and! Promises out here cycads, come away from the house about 3 feet or more my outdoorsyness in fla I. Light requirement: ZZ plant, contact your county Extension office or Florida Wildflowers light interiors in and! Larger cycads, come away from the wild also in the van is not real but! Dominated the earth then, but the seeds are still in the heighth... Close to the west Indies, Florida and can only reach up to feet. Mere 5 or 10 million yearschanges apparently took place when the Yikes: growth and care.! As `` cardboard palm '' var of coontie so far and maybe 20-30 cardboards and more up... Mexican cycad times of drought with rigid, cardboard sago, Mexican cycad ummm. Leaflets 0.2-1.8 cm wide ; peduncle much shorter than the seed cone low interiors. Plant Research, Oregon City photograph by Megan Hansen sand moist and restrict the plants... Used to store water, allow the top inch of soil to dry out before needing cardboard palm vs coontie water again scale! Been highly admired by the neighborhood walkers and always full of blooms needing to water.. Algae on the ground and produce a cone at the center of the cycad genus but... The west Indies, Florida and can only reach up to 4 in! Also where the unique looking reproductive structures arise manure to the Pet Poison Helpline have suffered ``., sago tree, and cover them lightly with soil with up to 6 feet in..