Thats a cycad 😯

Yup, that's a cycad.
And relatively rare, until the last few years.
Popularity skyrocketed, likely due to THAT mature photo

Beauty, huh?

Barb

Nice Barb, looks better than the ones here 😀

Steve

looks better than the ones here

That's hard to believe with your skill at growing cycads, Steve,but thanks 😀 😀

It's now putting out long fronds (finally), the one pictured is about 3 feet long.
I have to keep looking at the pic of the mature one to remind myself why I have them
😆

Barb

Hi Barb,

RUB it in that you have a GEORGOUS debaoensis :angry5:

It's a beauty!! Keep the photos coming.

Tim

Oh Tim, did I mention I've got 3 -- or is it 4 -- C.debaoensis :booty: :tongue1:

Barb

Your kidding that you have 3 or 4 debeaoensis? Your making me even more jealous!

Well now we're even, Tim.

I'm so jealous of the trunking yuccas in your yard.

We should trade homes.
I'd get the best deal in that trade. 😆

Barb

I disagree......your views are awesome! My place is only 10,500 sq. ft. in size. Not enough garden area! :flower:

10,500 😯

Deal's off, too much vacuuming.

10,500 sq. ft. is my YARD size not house size :cyclopsani:

Oh... 😆 😆 😆 😆

Hi Barb!

I've been following your C. Debaoensis since 2007! Glad to see they're doing well. But now that I'm the proud owner of my own flock of these beauties I figured it's time to join the forum and ask some questions!

I ultimately want to propagate these plants but am wondering how long they will take to reach maturity? I've seen some species get to cone-age in as fast as 8 years but others take 30 years or longer! How big is your caudex now after 5 years? I've got mine in pots right now but in lovely So Fl I might get away with planting these bad boys! 😀

PS... picks to follow....

If you take care of this species perfectly, the females will produce cones in just under 4 years and the males will cone in just about 3 years. It isn't always the age of the plant that is required for coning, but the energy levels and the starch mass of the stem that will get you cones faster. Barb, if you really want your plants to take off, you should put them in VERY deep pots, like 24 to 30 inches deep and about 10 inches in diameter(you will want very well draining soil). This species has a root system that is unlike any other cycad. All micholitzii types have a carrot type root, but these, after 2 years, will produce a branching carrot type root system, so you can have a 3 year old plant that has 12 giant, 2 foot long carrots for a root system, just sucking up every bit of nutrients that they can. They will also pretty much "eat" soil and after 3 years the soil level can be 4 to 6 inches lower than it was when planted. Plants that are even a few months old should be put into somewhat deep pots early, or they will be stunted compared to what they could have looked like. I usually start the seeds in 12 inch deep pots just to start with and go from there.