Jody,
Is the ferox every bit as stiff as horridus?
It looks somewhat softer but that may be the green versus blue color.

The vertical D.spinulosum flushes are what makes these Dioons so beautiful.
Looks like they receive dappled sun.

What age is that D.edule with the large caudex?

Spectacular pics!
Barb

Is the ferox every bit as stiff as horridus?
It looks somewhat softer but that may be the green versus blue color.

Oh, yeah! They are just as stiff and vicious as horridus -- "ferox" means "ferocious" after all!

The vertical D.spinulosum flushes are what makes these Dioons so beautiful.
Looks like they receive dappled sun.

Yes, the second one that I just posted is growing in dappled shade. The other (larger) one gets full sun for a large portion of the day and seems to be just fine.

What age is that D.edule with the large caudex?

I honestly don't know because I got it at that size from someone else who got it at that size... but if I had to guess, I would say at least 35-40 years (in cultivation). A plant that size in habitat, though, could be several hundred years old.

Jody

Thanks for the replies Jody.
I had forgotten what ferox meant 😕

Even 40 years in cultivation is impressive; but "several hundred years" to reach that size in habitat is
mind-boggling.

These plants are like works of art.
Barb

Thanks to everyone for all the photos ! 8)

Jody,
With the potted Dioon edule, very nice! What kind of potting mix works well with one that size? Do you have it on a fertilizer schedule?

A couple more photos........

Dioon edule still moving along,

Zamia floridana, these are into a continuous growth mode now, still like watching the new fronds unfurl !

Bowenia sp "Tinaroo" The Australian natives are showing signs of life 8)

Cycas sp. "Wilailak",

Steve

Wow, that's some amazing color the Dioons put out.

Dean

Exactly what I was going to say.
Stunning, Steve.
Barb

Jody, With the potted Dioon edule, very nice! What kind of potting mix works well with one that size? Do you have it on a fertilizer schedule?

Hey Steve. Any kind of well-draining soil works well for D. edule. It is a very adaptable species. I have not fertilized it at all since I got it a couple years ago. Cycads really don't require much in the way of fertilization, unless you want them to grow/cone faster.

Jody

Jody,

I like to fertilize my container stuff once every spring to recharge the nutrient levels, (Palms, Cycads, and everything else) , don't think I could afford any more than that 😀

Most of my Cycads started growth before any application this year, so things must be in some sort of balance.

Thank you for the info and photos! That has been my inspiration to put some in ground, and great to see larger ones doing well in containers.

Steve

Steve, I'm envious of your Dioon's color.
Compared to yours, mine is grass-green (older fronds have a bluish look)
...but nothing like yours.

It's breathtaking!

Barb

Thanks Barb, I like it too 8)

This one is showing a nice bronze tint,

Steve

Re the bronze, I noticed my flush (alas, only one leaf) looked bronze-like this year too while it was unfurling.
Now fully out, it's green. 😥 (wish for your blue color).

And look at those pachypodium lamerei in the background. 😯
Growing so bloomin' fast, they're wavy (Jay really has to get a "green with envy" smiley on here)

Barb

Barb,
Wish they would stay that color 😀 Maybe Jody would know how many color variations there are with emergent leaves on these?

Thanks for the Pachypodium comment, pretty soon I'll be able to pull a chair up to this one and have some shade 😀

Steve

Maybe Jody would know how many color variations there are with emergent leaves on these?

Steve, there are a number of regional forms of D. edule, and each one seems to have a different emergent leaf color. The most common form, referred to as D. edulevar. edule, is light green; D. edule'Jacala' is bronze to brick red; D. edule'Queretaro' is often pastel blue to pastel purple; I can't remember what color the 'Rio Verde' or 'Palma Sola' forms are (there are other forms, too).

Below are a couple photos that I took of a plant growing in someone's yard a few blocks from my house. Every year it flushes this same brick red color. I think it is probably the 'Jacala' form.

Jody

Wow, nice Jacala!

Thanks Jody! We now have photos of most emergent leaf colors 8)

Received some seedlings labelled as "Palma Sola, these have a bronze emergent, then harden off to a bluish tint.
( not 100% sure of the ID, was one of those eBay things)

Is the Key to Dioon Identification Poster still available? I really need to order one 😀

Steve