Encephalartos horridus, The Eastern Cape Blue Cycad

Encephalartos horridus is the leading plant among the blue cycads of South Africa, enjoying full sun, in a very well drained soil. In habitat, Encephalartos horridus grows in open rocky areas in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

A small-to-medium-sized cycad, Encephalartos horridus grows to 3 feet in trunk height, often forming a dense clump with multiple stems. Its hard, sharply pointed, blue-gray erect leaves are stunning in a garden setting.

Click here to see a larger photo of Encephalartos horridus.

In the garden, Encephalartos horridus is very attractive grown among succulent plants, or may be used on its own as an accent plant or with low green shrubs to provide contrast. It is frost tolerant.

Here's a video of Encephalartos horridus plants you may enjoy: Encephalartos horridus is distinguished from the similar E. trispinosus by its thorny lower leaflets and the brownish cones. Its leaves also tend to be more intensely blue. Also, E. horridus leaflets are twisted out of the plane of the leaf while E. trispinosus leaflets are relatively in line with the plane of the leaf.