山竹

Cycas panzhihuaensis is easy to grow, tolerating dry periods, and frosts (it's one of the most cold hardy of all Cycads). It looks similar to the common sago palm (Cycas revoluta) but has more bluey-coloured leaves and is certainly hardier. It prefers bright light exposure but best with at least a little protection from full afternoon heat.
This species wants a well drained spot, with deep soil, but will still battle admirably in less than ideal conditions, and is very tolerant of drought, alkaline soil and life in a pot.

Cycas panzhihuaensis is endemic to the Jinsha Jiang river valley in the South West Sichuan and North Yunnan provinces of China. As with all mainland Asian cycads, human population pressure has had considerable impact, and present distributions may represent a small fraction of the distribution of only a century ago.

Already several years old, this particular specimen will quickly start trunking once planted out.