Zamia furfuracea... an unlikely cold hardy plant

[NC_Palms]

North facing zone 8a. Usually dies down to the roots each winter but comes back. third year in the ground unprotected in zone 8a NC.

pic is from this past summer. It has already died down to the ground this winter and wont be seen again until May 

[hinovak]

Pretty cool, I have thought about trying a few Zamias at my place, hard to find any cold trial info on them at all..

[NC_Palms]

22 hours ago, hinovak said:

Pretty cool, I have thought about trying a few Zamias at my place, hard to find any cold trial info on them at all..

Im also growing zamia integrifolia which is definitely one of the hardest zamias to grow. highly recommend that one as well. 

[hinovak]

I actually do have a couple of the Zamia integrifolia, super bulletproof, forgot to cover those during some of our worst cold spells and the pulled through that. I read somewhere that they have made hybrid Zamias with integrifolia as one of the parents, so I’m very interested to try some of those in colder climates, but I have yet to see anyone with them…if anyone has experience or know of these or if they actually exist, please chime in.

[Merlyn]

I haven't heard of Floridana/Jntegrifolia/Coontie/Pumila (or whatever the new name might be) hybrids, but I have seen some Loddigesii / Furfuracea hybrids.  I have a bunch of Furfuracea and Loddigesii and some others too.  The Furfuracea always grow back from defoliation in the upper 20s, usually by April here in swampy Orlando.  They also get HUGE if protected from frost defoliation.