Without doing research, I'll tell you my observations. I have Dioon Edule 'variety Queretaro'. But only a few small plants grown from seed. They are still too small to really tell what they will do. There are several Dioons from the Pacific coast including the 'Baja Region' One we used to call the "Boomerang Edule" because the leaves would always take a sharp left turn (or twist) near the end of the leaves. The blue color is somtimes deceptive because all too often it is only temporary. For an example, I have a variety of Edule here(about 3 acres) in a seed colony that has red emergent leaves.......and then turns a beautiful powder blue after about two weeks and remains for several months more before turning to a greyish-green. They leaf 2-3 times a year and love to sucker....growing relatively fast for an Edule. Wish I knew what to call it...they came from Oaxaca near Tananga in Central Mexico near an area Where we collected big trunks of Dioon "Purpussii" during the early seventies. I remember the roads were washed out up high on the mountain......and the Mexicans were using Dioon Purpussii to fill in the holes and ruts in the road. Purpussii was that prolific....can you imagine? Now, try to find one. I brought back 65 large 2 ft. trunks on that trip....which are now in private collections ( I only have one for myself) I traded one to Bob Alonzo for a 1964 Ford Falcon which I drove for 15 years and then traded it for a canoe (which was stolen) but Bob still has the Purpussii which is worth a small fortune. Mine goes for 5-6 years at a time between new leaves. so the Dioon Queretaro in the photo at Daves Garden may be much older than you think. The rule of thumb on Edules is 200 yrs per ft. of clear trunk. The oldest Edule I have is estimated to be 650 years old and the male next to her is about 500 years old. I think they are the 'variety Rio Verde' which is beautiful. I also grow 'Palma Sola' which I helped Larry Bussell initially find in the early seventies, and also Jalapa. So, if Dioon Queretaro stays a pretty blue color , I will like it. Robert Chumley

Thanks so much Robert!
I was thinking you told me the "200 years per foot" thing on the phone, but I wasn't sure. So the one in the link is probably close to 300 years old then.
Oh, how I wish I was older and would have known you back in the 70's!! I would have made some trips with you. Sounds like they were the best of times.

Robert,

Thanks for the information. Wow, "200 years per ft. of clear trunk." 8)

Dean

A very interesting read, Mr. Chumley.
Sounds like the owner of that Dave's Garden pic should have a security fence around it!

Have you made any progress in pic posting?
We'd all love to see acres and acres of Cycads... 😯

200 years for a foot of trunk...doesn't that make a person feel "special"? 😐
We're scarcely a dot in the scheme of things.
Only a cycad, gingko, wollemia etc can evoke that feeling 😉

Barb