Encephalartos horridus, The Eastern Cape Blue Cycad

Encephalartos horridus is the most prominent blue cycad 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. 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.

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. Encephalartos horridus is distinguished from the similarEncephalartos trispinosus by its thorny lower leaflets and its brown-red cones. Its leaves also tend to be more intensely blue. Also, Encephalartos horridus leaflets are twisted out of the plane of the leaf while Encephalartos trispinosus leaflets are flatter and more in line with the plane of the leaf. Click here to see a larger photo of Encephalartos horridus.

Here's a video of Encephalartos horridus plants you may enjoy: