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Cardboard Plant Zamia furfuracea

Phonetic Spelling
ZAM-ee-uh fur-fur-AH-see-u
This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Cardboard cycad is a slow-growing cycad with rigid, cardboard textured leaves that is native to Mexico. The showy large leaves grow in a circular pattern similar to palms. It is easy to grow in well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade. A large seed cone forms in the center the female plant with many red toxic seeds. They are drought and salt tolerant.

In NC it will need to be brought indoors for the winter. Grow this plant in well-drained sandy loam soil in full sun to partial shade. Allow the soil to dry between waterings and use a pot with several drainage holes. They are slow-growing so they can make a nice indoor plant.

More information on Zamia.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#full sun tolerant#houseplant#slow growing#showy leaves#cycad#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#container plant#coastal plant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#poisonous#full sun tolerant#houseplant#slow growing#showy leaves#cycad#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#container plant#coastal plant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Zamia
    Species:
    furfuracea
    Family:
    Zamiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Mexico
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Houseplant
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Multi-trunked
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits, gymosperm.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    Gymnosperms have no true flowers. It produces a rusty-brown cone in the center of the female plant. The egg-shaped female cones and smaller male cone clusters are produced on separate plants.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Leaf Shape:
    Obovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Large compound leaves with 6-12 pairs of stiff fuzzy leaflets. Leaflets are 3-8 inches long and 1-2 inches wide. Upper third of leaves may have serrated margins. They grow in a spiral similar to palms.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Container
    Houseplants
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Medium
    Poison Symptoms:
    Vomiting (may be bloody), dark stools, headache, stomach pain, jaundice, increased thirst, bloody diarrhea, bruising, liver failure, death. 1-2 seeds can be fatal.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Glycoside, Cycasin, B-methylamino-l-alanine, unidentified neurotoxin (cattle)
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Seeds