Encephalartos altensteinii is a very ornamental garden plant and probably the most common of all the cycads in cultivation. This species is long-lived, is easy to grow and in time develops into large specimens. Encephalartos altensteinii develops into a medium to large plant producing initially a single erect trunk. Some plants will produce suckers at the base of the trunk which in time develop to a height of 4-5 m with a stem diameter of 0.35-0.4 m. Cycads are evergreen; the young leaves are light green and, grown in the shade, will develop to a length of 2-3 m. In full sun the leaves are shorter. A flush of new leaves is produced in the spring but not necessarily every year. All cycads are long-lived and, to reproduce, male and female plants need to produce cones at the same time, so that pollen can be transferred to the female cone. The species varies somewhat and is closely related to E. natalensis and E. lebomboensis.
Conservation Status
Through the years, vast numbers of Encephalartos altensteinii have been removed from their natural habitat, primarily for landscaping purposes. The movement and sale of the seeds is strictly controlled. Our seeds are from a registered trader with Cape Nature who has a Permit to transport and sell these seeds. On sale the full details of the permit and the supplier will be included on the invoice.
Distribution and habitat
Encephalartos altensteinii is widely distributed in the coastal bush from the Bushman's River in the south-eastern Cape to the southern border of Kwazulu-Natal. It also occurs inland at Komga, Kei Road and King William's Town on rocky hillsides and exposed escarpments. Summer conditions are warm to hot and cool in the winter with rarely any frost occurring. E. altensteinii responds well to cultivation and can be grown in full sun or light shade. This species tolerates light frost. In its natural habitat, this species enjoys rainfall ranging from 800 to 1000 mm, indicating that regular summer watering will be beneficial.
Encephalartos altensteinii, like all other species in the genus, is pollinated by insects. The Knysna Loerie and Trumpeter Hornbill are attracted to the disintegrating cones which expose the bright red seeds which are consumed by the birds. The fleshy layer is digested, the hard seed regurgitated, and in this way it is dispersed.
Carl Thunberg, a well known early traveller in South Africa, collected the first cycad which is known today as Encephalartos longifolius. Cycads were known as the bread tree, as the local people would remove the pith from the stem, bury it in the earth to rot, then knead it, make it into a cake and bake it in the embers of a fire. The greatest use of E. altensteinii today is in horticulture where it is used extensively in gardens and as a container plant when young. It is very ornamental.
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