Full sun cycads

[Stevetoad]

My wife's uncle wants to plant cycads on his hill in east county San Diego ( blossom valley). He wants dioon spinulosum but I know those will get burned in full sun out here. I know very little about cycads so I need some help on what would look like spinulosum but not burn in hot inland sun. Also ill need between 15 and 20 if anyone has some. The really pricy encephalardos won't work either Thanks guys!

[Jastin]

I don't know much either but maybe try and find someone with pups? Cycads all look the same for the most part...what about C. Tor tor? Friendly leaves, fast growing?

[edbrown_III]

Most blue leafed cycads Encephalartos lehmanii , E. horridus E. princeps

Macrozamia macdonnelii

Cycas angulata C. cairnsiana C. armstrongii

Jurrasic Park has a website and guide --- A&A cycads.

Best regards

Ed

[virtualpalm]

I would recommend Dioon rzedowskii.

Jody

[MattyB]

Your best bet would probably be getting a bunch of the more common, large, green Encephelartos, most of which will take full sun. They are relatively inexpensive nowadays, because everyone wants the rare and the blue.

[yachtingone]

What Jody and Matt said! Add D. califanoi to Jody"s list

[Peter]

Dioon edule or merolae are good bets-relatively available and on the cheaper side. Edule is common, but there are some very nice forms out there-if you're looking for 15 or more plants this might be your best bet. Or what Matt said for a different but affordable alternative.

[Stevetoad]

thanks for all the help everyone! ill post a pic with what he ends up with after i plant them...

[rprimbs]

My wife's uncle wants to plant cycads on his hill in east county San Diego ( blossom valley). He wants dioon spinulosum but I know those will get burned in full sun out here. I know very little about cycads so I need some help on what would look like spinulosum but not burn in hot inland sun. Also ill need between 15 and 20 if anyone has some. The really pricy encephalardos won't work either Thanks guys!

I think that the Dioon spinulosum will only really burn the first year. I have some that look great here in Escondido (They got pretty burnt the first year). But Jody is right Dioon rzedowskii looks almost exactly like Dioon spinulosum and they are supposed to be much more sun tolerant.

Edited December 9, 2012 by rprimbs

[Geoff]

In southern California I would say most cycads are full sun tolerant. Nearly all Encephalartos are, all Dioons are, most Macrozamias, about 1/3 of the Ceratozamias are, one of two Lepidozamias are, though they L perroffskiana may burn a bit it mid summer (won't hurt the overall health of the plant, though) and a few Zamias are full sun tolerant. I think this list may shrink a lot by the time you go so far east you're in Palm Springs... but otherwise I would plant whatever you want on that list- most will adapt if they burn at first. Bowenias prefer shade as do most Zamias and the majority of Ceratozamias... and Chigua is too rare for me to know.

[palmmermaid]

I have Z. furfuraccea (large) and Z. pumila (small) in full sun in south Florida. Both are thriving. The Z. pumila is is used as a median plant here.