Crown Jewel: Eastern Cape giant cycad

Encephalartos altensteinii Lehm.
Family: Zamiaceae

There are several specimens of Encephalartos altensteinii (Eastern Cape giant cycad) in the Hortus. One of them is among the oldest container plants in the Western world. That plant, originally from the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, was brought to The Netherlands about 300 years ago. In 1850, the Hortus purchased this cycad from the collection of the deceased King William II. Since then, it has been the showpiece of the Hortus.

Encephalartos species are dioecious, which means that there are male and female specimens. The oldest Eastern Cape giant cycad in the Hortus is a male specimen. Across from it is an approximately 200-year-old female specimen. Both plants form cones every few years. Hortus employees pollinate the female cones with the pollen collected from the male cones in order to obtain seeds. These seeds are then distributed to other botanical gardens across the world. In this way, the Hortus helps in the survival of this unique threatened plant species.

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