Plant Collections
Cycad Collection
Slow growing plants, palm like in appearance but classified in a distinct group. Plants are either female or male and produce cones containing either seed or pollen. Coralloid roots fix nitrogen from the air allowing good growth in poor soils. Cycads occur in Japan, Pacific Islands, Australia, Central America, China, India, Madagascar and the east coast of Africa.
The bold architectural form creates a good focal point in a garden but young plants may take many years to reach maturity. Once established these plants can withstand dry conditions.
Best Viewed
- Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn
Grow
Lepidozamia peroffskyana Burrawang
Cycas revoluta Sago Palm
Plant Census
Find out what plants grow at Melbourne Gardens.
Key Plants
Lepidozamia peroffskyana Burrawang
Trunk to 7 meters, dark green leathery leaves. Produces large cones.
Cycas revoluta Sago Palm
Trunk or trunks to 3 metres, dark green shiny leaves. Good container plant.
Short or no trunk, leaves in a rounded crown.
A large cycad which suckers to form dense clumps, leaves are prickly.
Medium cycad, leaves form a graceful crown.
Curator Notes
- Some plants are at risk of extinction in the wild due to poaching and loss of habitat.
- Tough long-lived plants requiring little water once established.
- Little care needed, prune off old, unsightly leaves.
History
The larger plants were planted in the 19th century. The current collection was brought together in the 1990s.