Family: Zamiaceae
Common name: Cardboard palm, Cardboard cycad, Zamia, Cardboard plant, Sago cycas, Cardboard sago, Coconut palm cycad, Jamaican sago, Mexican cycad
Cardboard palm is a fascinating, slow-growing plant that can be grown in pots or flower beds in home gardens and landscaped areas. They are native to the tropical regions of Mexico, and are hence grown most commonly in tropical countries.
Plant Characteristics
Cardboard palms usually grow to a height of 1 to 1.5 meters, sometimes with the trunk growing underground so that the plant looks like the leaves are coming from underneath the soil.
These are short, bushy plants that look like rosettes on the ground, multiple fronds that fan out from the central stem.
Since they are slow-growing, the stems may take many years till they are fully visible above ground. The stem is pineapple-shaped or cylindrical, rough, brown, and woody with a scaly texture where the older leaves have fallen off.
Even when the plant is mature, the trunk is a small stump on the ground, barely visible above the surface of the soil.
Leaves are one of the most attractive features of the Cardboard palm; large, pinnately compound leaves that are about 1 meter long. Each leaf has numerous thick, leathery, scruffy-looking leaflets with toothed edges.
Leaflets are 10-20 cms long with a beautiful texture which makes the plant very attractive among gardeners and landscapers. Long fronds fall around the center of the plant, slanting downwards into the soil. The plant has a very unique, tropical vibe that can add beauty to your garden.
Like many cycads, Cardboard palms has separate male and female plants. Male plants produce cones that are about 20 cm long, cylindrical in shape, green in color, later turning yellow or orange on maturity.
Female cones are larger, about 30 cm long and more rounded in shape. Cardboard palms usually flower during spring and summer.
Fruits are produced from the female cones, each fruit about 3-5 cm long containing several seeds that are encased in a fleshy inner core. These seeds can be used for germination, though it is usually very slow, with a low success rate.
Gardening Tips
Carboard palms prefer indirect sunlight or partial shade since bright sunlight can burn the edges of the leaves. They need well-drained soil, but the plants can tolerate poor soil conditions.
These plants are extremely drought-tolerant and should not be overwatered. They can be pretty much ignored in terms of watering and fertilization, and are hence ideal plants for the novice or forgetful gardener.
Remember that these plants can grow quite wide and need a lot of space on the ground. So they should the planted sufficiently far away from each other, giving each plant about 2-3 meters around them, which is roughly the circumference of each plant.
Cardboard palms don’t usually need pruning, unless the dry or rotting stems need to be removed. They are mostly sturdy and pest-resistant.
These plants are closely related to Cycas revoluta or Sago palm, both slow-growers and loved for their unique looks.
Uses of Cardboard palm
All parts of the Cardboard palm contain Cycasin, which is toxic to pets and humans. Hence it is better to keep children and pets away from these plants. They should also be handled with care, ensuring that hands are washed well after handling them.
These plants have some uses in traditional herbal medicine because of their anti-inflammatory properties, but the toxins far outweigh any benefits that the Cardboard palms might have.
Most cycads are considered as living fossils since they are said to have existed for millions of years, dating back to the age of the dinosaurs. Cycads are one of the oldest plants still in existence.
Since Cardboard palms are are extremely slow-growers and very difficult to propagate, these plants are considered endangered and rare. Conservation efforts are underway to protect these ancient plants from overharvesting and habitat loss.
Carboard palm trees help prevent soil erosion, by holding the soil fast with their spreading roots. They are mostly grown as ornamental plants, but their seeds attract small animals that help in propagation.
Propagation
Cardboard palm plants are propagated through seeds and through small suckers that grow from the parent plant. Seed germination usually takes many months of patient waiting.
Suckers are produced at the base of the parent plants, which can be carefully removed with a sharp knife and replanted to produce new plants.
Photographed at: Bangalore International Center
