Lepidozamia Hopei hardiness , owner experience

[Meangreen94z]

I purchased a Hopei about a month ago with an approximate 5” Caudex. It will stay in a pot for now. There’s not a whole lot of firm information on hardiness but I’ve heard it may not handle much below 25*F? I’m 9a so that’s about the annual low, although we do see lower.

A few questions:How often do owners see flushes? Does it prefer summer shade or direct sunlight ? Growth rate? Any other useful info? Thanks

-Daniel

[Tracy]

10 hours ago, Meangreen94z said:

There’s not a whole lot of firm information on hardiness but I’ve heard it may not handle much below 25*F? I’m 9a so that’s about the annual low, although we do see lower. 

A few questions:How often do owners see flushes? Does it prefer summer shade or direct sunlight ? Growth rate?

Hi Daniel,  Wishing you success with this one, but I managed to kill one a few years back while I have found Lepidiozamia peroffskyana a relatively easy grow in my climate.  I was advised to give L hopei some protection from mid-day blazing sun, which I did when planting it.  Mine was smaller when planted at about 2" caudex, planted in clay soil on a slope to maximize good drainage.  I still have a perroffskyana growing nearby on that slope which I planted later.  The L hopei didn't make it past the first year.  I haven't tried again since.  In general expect Lepidozamia to take up a bit of space as it grows, whether peroffskyana or hopei.  The nice thing is that being unarmed, they can be closer to a walkway than most other cycads.  I do prefer the wider leaflets on hopei, but at this point don't have a good spot to go back and start again with the species.   By the way, I recall that L hopei is more sensitive to cold than peroffskyana, so you may want to look up it's sibling species and expect that whatever it's bottom temp is, that hopei will need protection well before you hit peroffskyana's limit.

To get an idea on spread of hopei, I can offer up the photo of my largest male Lepidiozamia peroffskyana.

[Meangreen94z]

Thank you. I had 2 different people try to talk me out of the Hopei, and towards Peroffskyana with similar stories. I intend to find a nice Peroffskyana as well. When did yours die? During the winter? Or due to some other environmental/ climate condition?  I have extensive cold weather protection for some of my other plants and have had success. As long as it doesn’t mind a wet climate(it will have good drainage), including wet winters, I think I might have a chance at success with it. 

Edited April 23, 2019 by Meangreen94z

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

Mine died during the winter and had 2' of trunk.  I was really bummer out about it.  They cant handle anything less than 26-27 degrees.  Peroffskyana on the other hand is quite hardy.

[Tracy]

5 hours ago, Meangreen94z said:

When did yours die? During the winter? Or due to some other environmental/ climate condition?  I have extensive cold weather protection for some of my other plants and have had success. As long as it doesn’t mind a wet climate(it will have good drainage), including wet winters, I think I might have a chance at success with it.  

I don't think wet is the problem, but wet and cold at the same time is a problem.  I don''t recall the exact timeline of the demise of mine as it was probably 10 to 12 years ago when it occurred.  It either died during winter or coming out of winter.  Nearby plants included a couple of hyophorbe indica's, Chambeyronia's (both hookeri and macrocarpa), the peroffskyana previously mentioned, lots of potted Ceratozamia's at that time, and all those survived.  This was in my house in Carlsbad, CA which is less than a mile as the crow flies from the Pacific Ocean, so a very mild climate for Southern California.  No freezes, and rarely hot due to the ocean's moderating effects on both lows and highs.  Good luck, but if you have room, get a Lepidiozamia peroffskyana as your backup!

[Meangreen94z]

That’s disappointing to hear. I guess I’ll try keeping it under my porch during the winter. I have multiple plant lights illuminating agave that would croak in our rains.I may end up selling it, but I’d like to see if I can briefly make something work. I plan on one day having a large greenhouse, maybe it will survive until then.

Edited April 24, 2019 by Meangreen94z

[Meangreen94z]

I guess now is a good time to ask: Another one I’m considering is Cycas Thouarsii. It looks like it would take damage at 25*F but recover? Any idea on trunk hardiness? It’s a large fast growing cycad, which is what I’m looking for currently. Trying to collect a variety of them.

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

Thourasii will handle 25 with a developed trunk for sure as mine has done it on multiple occasions.

[Meangreen94z]

Thanks

[Merlyn]

I read that Thouarsii defoliate semi-yearly in Gainesville FL but regrow.  Some people reported death at 20F, others said that they had the main trunk die off but they "regrew from the roots."  Record lows in Gainesville are in the teens, though I'm not sure about typical minimums there.  If I had to guess I'd say typical winters go into the mid 20s, possibly a little colder.