Cycas revoluta "Showa" form

Cycas revoluta "Showa" form is a special compact form of Cycas revoluta that grows vigorously and produces twice as many fronds. Cycas revoluta "Showa" forms a thick crown of dark, tightly arranged leaves, and when the trunk forms, it is very dark in color, almost black. DNA work recently revealed this cultivar's genetic code differs in very specific ways from the standard Cycas revoluta.


Click here to view a larger photo of Cycas revoluta "Showa."

The "Showa" cultivar is relatively unknown outside of Japan, where most temples and palaces in Japan use "Showa" plants in their landscape designs. Named "Sosetsu Showa," this form was first noticed during the "Meiji" Period (1868-1912), but was not planted in Japanese Temples and Palaces until the "Showa" Period (1926-1989), when the Japanese Emperor ordered that this Cycas cultivar be planted in all Palace Gardens and Temples.

Currently, there are only limited sources of this seed in Japan, and fewer outside Japan. We secured a limited number of sprouted seeds several years ago, which have now grown to mature plants.