Other Names:  Virgin Palm, Chestnut Cycad

Description:

A very slow growing cycad with radiating fern like leaves; will develop a trunk over a long period; an attractive accent or container plant that prefers moist, well drained, and fertile soil; great for bright indoor areas

Features & Attributes

Chestnut Dioon's attractive large glossy narrow pinnately compound leaves emerge light green, turning bluish-green in color with pointy lime green spines throughout the year on a plant with a round habit of growth. The dark brown stems can be quite attractive and add to the plant's interest.

This is a spreading evergreen houseplant with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other indoor plants with less refined foliage. This plant should never be pruned unless absolutely necessary, as it tends not to take pruning well.

Planting & Growing

When grown indoors, Chestnut Dioon can be expected to grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 50 years. This houseplant will do well in a location that gets either direct or indirect sunlight, although it will usually require a more brightly-lit environment than what artificial indoor lighting alone can provide. It does best in average to evenly moist soil, but will not tolerate standing water. The surface of the soil shouldn't be allowed to dry out completely, and so you should expect to water this plant once and possibly even twice each week. Be aware that your particular watering schedule may vary depending on its location in the room, the pot size, plant size and other conditions; if in doubt, ask one of our experts in the store for advice. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soil. Contact the store for specific recommendations on pre-mixed potting soil for this plant.

There are many factors that will affect the ultimate height, spread and overall performance of a plant when grown indoors; among them, the size of the pot it's growing in, the amount of light it receives, watering frequency, the pruning regimen and repotting schedule. Use the information described here as a guideline only; individual performance can and will vary. Please contact the store to speak with one of our experts if you are interested in further details concerning recommendations on pot size, watering, pruning, repotting, etc.

-- THIS IS A HOUSEPLANT AND IS NOT MEANT TO SURVIVE THE WINTER OUTDOORS IN OUR CLIMATE --