One feature of the Florida Garden that none of our previous gardens had is the CYCAD family of bushes and small trees. This ancient family of plants includes Sagos, or Sago Palms as they are called, despite them not being true palms. We have at least four kinds of cycads in our garden. We have seven Sagos, with two resembling palm trees with a bare trunk and large fronds. Sago plants are either male or female sexes. The male has a conical fruiting structure providing pollen. The female makes a large beige core filled with orange fruit/nuts. Every few years, the stiff fronds get tired and turn yellow, necessitating all foliage to be removed. A large bud of new fronds then emerges and dramatically unfolds. The next most common Cycad is the Coontie, part of the Zamia family. These are scattered everywhere in the Florida Garden, especially in shady areas. Another Zamia is the Cardboard Plant, with one plant along the back fence. It has large paddle-like leaves. The final Cycad is one clump of Bamboo cycad, growing near the avocado tree. It’s leaves look like those of a bamboo plant. Cycads occupy important parts of the garden and offer this time of year a glossy foliage that keeps the landscape green when much of it has lost it’s leaves.
TAProots
Comments