Cycad, Chestnut Dioon, Edible-Seed Cycas, Virgin's Palm, Mexican Cycad, Mexican Blue Chamal, Mexican Fern Palm, Dioon aculeatum, Dioon imbricatum, Dioon strobilaceum, Dioon strobilosum, Macrozamia littoralis, Macrozamia pectinata, Platyzamia rigida, Zamia maeleni, Zamia friderici-guilielmi, Zamia macleani, Zamia rigida,
Slow-growing, Dioon edule (Chestnut Dioon) is an elegant, palm-like, evergreen cycad with an open rosette of large, stiff, and straight, blue-green, pinnate leaves, up to 3-6 ft. long (90-180 cm). Borne atop a short stocky trunk, the leaves are divided into up to 120-160 spine-tipped, narrow leaflets. This plant is dioecious, presenting separate male and female plants. Distinctive cones appear on male and female plants in alternate years. The male pollen cones are pale brown, up to 16 in. across (40 cm), while the female seed cones are more egg-shaped, soft and furry, pale gray, up to 14 in. across (35 cm). Resembling pineapples, the seed cones are very decorative and can contain up to 200 or more edible seeds. Drought and salt tolerant, Dioon edule is also one of the most cold-hardy cycads. It can survive temperatures down to 22ºF (-5ºC). Long-lived (several hundred years), Chestnut Dioon is easy to grow and an excellent choice for low-maintenance gardens where its lush foliage adds a tropical touch. Spectacular as a specimen, in groupings or in containers (container-grown plants are unlikely to produce any seed).
Hardiness |
9 - 11 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
5 - 12 |
Climate Zones | 14, 15, 16, 17 |
Plant Type | Palms - Cycads |
Plant Family | Zamiaceae |
Genus | Cycas |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter |
Height | 6' - 8' (180cm - 240cm) |
Spread | 4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm) |
Spacing | 72" - 84" (180cm - 210cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries |
Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Salt |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers |
Garden Styles | Coastal Garden, Mediterranean Garden |
Hardiness |
9 - 11 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
5 - 12 |
Climate Zones | 14, 15, 16, 17 |
Plant Type | Palms - Cycads |
Plant Family | Zamiaceae |
Genus | Cycas |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter |
Height | 6' - 8' (180cm - 240cm) |
Spread | 4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm) |
Spacing | 72" - 84" (180cm - 210cm) |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen, Fruit & Berries |
Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Salt |
Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers |
Garden Styles | Coastal Garden, Mediterranean Garden |
How many Dioon edule (Chestnut Dioon) do I need for my garden?
Plant | Quantity | |
---|---|---|
Dioon edule (Chestnut Dioon) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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