Lepidozamia hopei

Lepidozamia hopei
Hope's Cycad

Perhaps the worlds largest cycad, this species from northeastern Queensland, Australia forms a trunk that can reach 50 cm (20 in.) in diameter and over 17 m (55 ft.) tall. Its spreading crown can hold up to 100 pinnate leaves with broad, beautifully glossy leaflets. Naturally occuring in rainforests from low altitude to 1000 m (3300 ft.), it adapts well to tropical and many warm temperate climates and can take a rare light frost. Young plants are attractive from their first leaf on and adapt easily to cultivation in containers.

germination comments by our visitors
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Also see plant cultivation comments below.

Seeds from this species ...

... are average to germinate and need up to 6 months to sprout.
Sown half buried in a 50/50 mix of moist vermiculite & perlite at a temperature of 22c at night & 30-32c for 16 hours,the first seeds started to germinate after 3 months & continued sporadically for another 4 months,eventually 8 out 10 germinated.
Submitted on 22/10/2006 by Mike Kenchington michael.kenchington@btinternet.com


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plant cultivation comments by our visitors
Also see germination commnets above.

Plants from this species ...

... are of excellent ornamental value
In Cairns in Australia they need little care and grow slow.
hopei can steadily within the nursery, requiring to be planted from a 200mm pot within 3 years. I have planted half a dozen within shady sites throughout the garden.Specimens within the wild can be observed within both ridge top rainforest habitats to lowland rainforest and Licuala ramsayi swamplands (surprisingly indeed). 15 year old specimens within the garden span a 4m diametre however are only beginning to form a trunk. They tolerate cool weather and in the wild can occasionally be found growing within wet eucalypt forest rather than rainforest- suggesting they may be rather hardy.Within the wild large specimens possess toe holes for climbing, created by the original inhabitants prior to European invasion just some 150 years ago. Rats desire the seeds. They germinate easily requiring a deep pot to accomodate the taproot.Overall a superb species.Cheers from Kris
Submitted on 01/12/2006 by Kris Kupsch tropicalbotanics@hotmail.com


	• • • Write a plant cultivation comment and enter to win Euro (€) 50 worth of seeds • • • Please note: These comments are on how to cultivate the PLANTS once the seeds have germinated.

If you wish to read more on palm cultivation, we highly recommend Ornamental Palm Horticulture by Timothy K. Broschat and Alan W. Meerow, available in our bookshop.

Ratings and comments reflect individual experiences and the views of our visitors. They do not necessarily describe the most appropriate methods, nor are they necessarily valid for all seeds or plants of this species. Germination and plant cultivation success depends on many different factors; nevertheless, these experiences will hopefully aid you in your effort to get the best germination results from our seeds and the best growth results from your plants.

We recommend:

Martius, Book of Palms
by H. Walter Lack

Hardcover - 450 pages
19.8 x 13.5 inches!
11.1 pounds!
50 x 34 cm, 5 kg

Our Rating:

Suitable for: all

Martius's magnificent work on the varieties of palm tree. This epic folio was based on Martius's expedition to Brazil and Peru with zoologist Johann Baptist von Spix. From 1817 to 1820 the pair travelled over 2,250 km (1,400 miles) throughout the Amazon Basin, the most species-rich palm region in the world, collecting and sketching specimens.
In his epic work, Martius outlined the modern classification of palm, produced the first maps of palm biogeography, described all the palms of Brazil, and collated the sum of all known genera of the palm family. For apart from his own collection of specimens and notes, Martius also wrote about the findings of others.
Martius's folio is unusual in its inclusion of cross-sectioned diagrams, conveying the architecture of these mighty trees. Equally remarkable are the color landscapes showing various palms—often standing alone—which have a simple and elegant beauty. This famous work is an unrivaled landmark in botanic illustration and taxonomy.

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