I just had a great group of master gardeners come out to my place, but they missed this cycad because it was being covered up by a large tree branch. It pushing new leaves that were being supported by the branch, so I have tied them up and supported them with piece of bamboo.
This is a Cycad debaoensis from China, that is producing new leaves that are 12 feet long. This species is becoming one of my favorite cycad species because the leaves are so amazing looking, with their branched leaflets, and they grow super fast. This plant is only 5 years old.
One reason why this species grows so fast is the special root system it has. Cycad debaoensis is in the Cycas micholitzii complex, which is a group of cycas that have branched leaflets. All of the micholitzii types have fat taproots and very little secondary roots for the first several years. Cycad debaoensis has the same type main root, but after the plant is 2 or 3 years old, the main root branches and produces a mass of equal size main taproots that looks like an octopus. This allows the plant to take in a mass amount of nutrients and energy which in turn, well help it produce huge leaves and stem diameter. For anyone who thinks cycads grow slowly, this species will change your mind. Cycad revoluta, known as the king sago, matures in about 10 years from seed, where Cycad debaoensis can mature in 3 years from seed. This 5 year old plant produced a female cluster this year.
