Cycas debaoensis

[Plantking165]

Does anyone know where to buy a cycas debaoensis? New to cycads and would like to find one of these. 

[Merlyn]

@Plantking165 I'd drive up to Kissimmee for MB Palms' open house next Sat/Sun.  Last year he had 4" Debaoensis in practically exploding pots for $20 each.  He may have sold all of them, but they looked like the real deal to me.  Many (or most?) of the "Debaoensis" for sale are actually hybrids called "Multifrondis."  They look similar, but flush multiple fronds at a time and the leaf structure is a bit different.  I have about 10 Debaoensis, and it took several years of flushes to figure out which ones are real vs hybrids.

Three PT members you could ask are @NatureGirl, @Scott W and @NATEtures Domain.  I've bought cycads from all of them over the past few years, and they may have some Debs available.

[Gallop]

If you come across true Debaoensis it wil be an extremely rare find. To my knowledge there was only one seller that had a few plants available in recent years. I would imagine untill these plants mature and produce seed, true debaoensis will not be available. I attached a picture of true Debaoensis seedling. 

[Scott W]

Thanks @Merlyn

No true Debaoensis in my collection unfortunately, though I can concur that the ones thay Mike at MB Palms had/had looked like the real deal.  Honestly still not sure how I didn't get one from him.  But that's okay, my male multifrondis is making some beautiful hybrids that I hope to start seeing split leafs on....I'll post them up when available.

[Jdash]

This is what Mike was selling. Unfortunately looks like it was not a true debaoensis

[Scott W]

2 hours ago, Jdash said:

This is what Mike was selling. Unfortunately looks like it was not a true debaoensis

 

I'd agree, not debaoensis.   However, I've seen a few others he sold that have a much different look.

I did receive my seed order from a very reputable supplier in China today.  Pictures of the mother plant look like the real deal.  Fingers crossed!  😁

[Gallop]

1 hour ago, Scott W said:

I'd agree, not debaoensis.   However, I've seen a few others he sold that have a much different look.

I did receive my seed order from a very reputable supplier in China today.  Pictures of the mother plant look like the real deal.  Fingers crossed!  😁

Scott,

If those are from Garry, you’ll get nice looking plants but unfortunately they are not the real deal. I have a good bit of experience with these seeds. 

[Merlyn]

@Jdash at this size I'd also agree, it's probably a hybrid.  However, they do change frond shape as they get larger.  It may be a few more years before you can really say yes or no.  I've planted 7 "Debao" from MB Palms and 5 from CBLisa through NatureGirl, and they all varied when young.  Well, some still are young.  But I won't know if they will end up growing into the semi-tubular hybrid shape like this below from MBC:

Or like one of the two populations that Sim Lav went out to find:

and 2nd population:

And then there's confusing seedlings that Chip Jones says are real from habitat...but no way I could positively ID at this size:

[Jdash]

@Merlynthat's what i figured when i first got it. assumed it'd take it's time to mature. it has pushed out a couple larger leaves since i've planted it, and they doubled in size, great looking. However it's currently recovering from a little hurricane damage. I saw the one from MBC, and it resembles what i'm seeing. the fronds sim shows are incredible. I was wondering what chip jones carried... those look very similar to some of MBs....

[Scott W]

9 hours ago, Gallop said:

Scott,

If those are from Garry, you’ll get nice looking plants but unfortunately they are not the real deal. I have a good bit of experience with these seeds. 

Ugggh,  thanks for ruining my day....🤣

[Jdash]

Couple other images of the last frond snapped by a hurricane

Guess I'll have to update what it looks like in a couple years. Still a small guy

[Jdash]

Habitat picture from conservation group

[Plantking165]

On 1/21/2025 at 9:16 AM, Merlyn said:

@Jdash at this size I'd also agree, it's probably a hybrid.  However, they do change frond shape as they get larger.  It may be a few more years before you can really say yes or no.  I've planted 7 "Debao" from MB Palms and 5 from CBLisa through NatureGirl, and they all varied when young.  Well, some still are young.  But I won't know if they will end up growing into the semi-tubular hybrid shape like this below from MBC:

Or like one of the two populations that Sim Lav went out to find:

and 2nd population:

And then there's confusing seedlings that Chip Jones says are real from habitat...but no way I could positively ID at this size:

Well I may win some seeds for cycas debaoensis from MBC, if i do get lucky enough to win the bid how would I go about germinating these guys 

[Merlyn]

10 hours ago, Plantking165 said:

Well I may win some seeds for cycas debaoensis from MBC, if i do get lucky enough to win the bid how would I go about germinating these guys 

That may be a better question for @Scott W or @Gallop, I haven't germinated any Cycad species myself.  Let us know how the MBC auction goes!

[Jdash]

Few at leu gardens. Similar to MBC

[Scott W]

19 hours ago, Jdash said:

Few at leu gardens. Similar to MBC

Those have a nice look to them!

[Scott W]

On 1/23/2025 at 9:12 AM, Merlyn said:

That may be a better question for @Scott W or @Gallop, I haven't germinated any Cycad species myself.  Let us know how the MBC auction goes!

I usually just germinate them in a covered container of sand and once germinated transfer them over to a container to grow in.

 

[Cycads Enthusiast]

Unfortunately, true Debaoensis will be an extremely rare find. It's better to find a new-born plant from certified seed in a reputable nursery, or from a passionate individual with access to real seed, than to buy a large, mature plant from an unknown source. There are a lot of old and quite nice (caudex 10-12 cm) Cycas multifrondis plants being sold as Cycas debaoensis (most likely the result of an old hybridisation between C. debaoensis and C. segmentifida), so be careful.  Debaoensis performs very well and grows very fast, producing 10 cm of mostly unground caudex in 3 years! You can boost the process of caudex production by using auxins: water mix of 1 mg/l IAA + 1 mg/l IBA then water 0.5 l into the soil per newbie on every 3 weeks. This will help to create massive roots. Remember: geniune debaoensis, like multifrondis, hate full sun, so keep them in partial shade.

[Merlyn]

@Jdash all the ones at Leu Gardens are hybrids, similar to the one at MBC.  There's the "hidden pathway" through the cycads, though not really hidden:

I'm not sure if one of your photos was on that dirt pathway, but their biggest "Debaoensis" is there, along with a "Multipinnata" that looks like it may turn out to be real.

[Jdash]

I believe that is where I took a picture of the debaoensis, saw the multipinnata there too. Other than that at the very entrance of the gardens on the right hand side walking in past the b.alfrediis they have a couple more. @Merlyn