Encephalartos trispinosus Seeds

E. trispinosus is one of the famous group of blue cycads from South Africa. This species was described initially as a variety of E. horridus in 1863 by the English botanist J.D. Hooker, but later raised to the rank of species by South African botanist R. Allen Dyer.

Encephalartos trispinosus is a highly variable plant. It is distinguished primarily from Encephalartos horridus by the entire lower leaflets and the yellowish cones. Its leaves also tend to be less intensely blue, although this character is variable within the species and with the age of the leaves. Leaflets of E. trispinosus are also relatively in line with the the plane of the leaf, while E. horridus leaflets are twisted out of the plane of the leaf.

Encephalartos trispinosus grows in open rocky areas, or light forest, near the Bushmans River, and Fish River of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

A small-to-medium-sized cycad, growing to 3+ feet in trunk height, often clumping with up to 6 stems. Its blue-green, pointy, erect leaves are quite stunning in a garden setting. In the garden, it prefers a sunny location in very well drained soil. It is frost tolerant.