Zamia furfuracea

Origin, habitat and conservation

Zamia furfuracea occurs naturally only in Veracruz on Mexico's Gulf coast. Wild plants grow in a small coastal area with sandy ground and limestone slopes.

The species has a small natural range and is listed as Endangered. International trade is regulated under CITES, which aims to prevent trade from threatening the survival of wild plants and animals.

Everyday care

• Light: Provide bright light with gentle sun or light shade. A bright indoor position helps the crown grow evenly.
• Potting mix: Use a coarse, fast-draining mix. Cactus mix or a houseplant mix with plenty of pumice, perlite or grit works well.
• Watering: Water thoroughly, then let the mix dry well before watering again. While new fronds are opening, check the mix more often and keep it evenly moist while still letting excess water drain freely.
• Temperature: Warm, frost-free conditions suit potted plants. Bring outdoor pots into a warm, sheltered position as temperatures fall.
• Humidity: Average household humidity is suitable, and the plant handles dry indoor air well.
• Feeding: Feed lightly while new fronds are growing, using a balanced fertiliser at the rate on the label.
• Repotting: Cycads can stay in the same pot for a long time. Repot when the roots or central stem fill the pot or water starts draining slowly.
• Propagation: Sow fresh seed or separate and pot established side shoots. Wear gloves when handling seeds and keep them securely away from pets and children.

Common problems and what to do

• Small pale or brown scale insects appear on the fronds: Scale insects are common cycad pests. Check both sides of the leaflets and the centre of the plant. Remove visible insects and use a labelled scale treatment, repeating it as directed on the label.
• Cottony deposits appear around leaf bases: Mealybugs can settle in sheltered spots. Remove visible insects and use a treatment labelled for mealybugs. Repeat the treatment as often as the label directs.
• Fronds yellow while the pot remains wet: The roots are staying too wet. Let the mix dry, make sure excess water can drain and cut away soft rotten tissue with a clean, disinfected tool.
• New fronds open with curled leaflets or dry edges: Moisture was uneven while the new leaves were opening. Keep the mix evenly moist while the new fronds open, and let excess water drain.
• Fresh fronds develop brown or collapsed patches after a cold spell: New growth is sensitive to cold. Move potted plants into a consistently warm place and keep the new fronds warm as they develop.

If you need help identifying a problem, send us clear photos of the whole plant and the affected area. Include the soil or potting mix around the roots.

Zamia furfuracea is toxic to people and pets

• Keep every part of this plant away from children, cats and dogs, especially the seeds.
• All parts contain cycasin and related toxins, with the seeds posing the greatest risk.
• Poisoning can cause vomiting, stomach pain, weakness, liver failure, seizures or death. Treat any ingestion as an emergency and contact a veterinarian or medical professional immediately.

Zamia furfuracea: where the name comes from

Zamia arose from a manuscript misreading of the Latin phrase azaniae nuces, a name used for pine nuts. The epithet furfuracea is Latin for scurfy, mealy or bran-like and describes the rusty scale-like coating on young leaves and other emerging organs.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Zamia in 1763 in Species Plantarum, second edition, page 1659.

William Aiton first described Zamia furfuracea in 1789 in Hortus Kewensis, volume 3, page 477; Carl Linnaeus the Younger had proposed the name.