Zamia pumila (Coontie)

Long-lived, Zamia pumila (Coontie) is a small clumping, tough, woody cycad forming terminal rosettes of stiff, evergreen, pinnate leaves up to 3 ft. long (90 cm). This primitive fern-like plant grows from a thick underground stem. Coontie is dioecious. Therefore, female plants will not produce seed without a nearby male. Mature male plants produce erect, dark reddish brown, cylindrical cones, 2-7 in. long (5-17 cm) in groups of 2 or more. Female plants produce dark reddish brown, elongate-ovoid cones in groups of 1 to 5. The female cones display fleshy, bright orange seeds when their maturing cones split open. The seeds provide food for mockingbirds, blue jays, and many other birds as well as insects and small mammals. This cycad has better cold tolerance than most. Hardy, drought tolerant, undemanding, Coontie is easy to grow and a very popular plant in cultivation. Commonly grown in tropical and subtropical areas, it makes an excellent accent or specimen plant and can be used in beachside plantings.

• Grows up to 2-3 ft. tall (60-90 cm) and 2-4 ft. wide (60-120 cm).
• Easily grown in dry, sandy or sandy loam, well-drained soils in full sun or part shade. Drought tolerant once established. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
• Great as a groundcover, foundation plant, specimen shrub or mass planting in borders.
• No serious disease or pest issues.
• Propagate by seed or root division. Cleaned seeds should be spread on the ground and covered with a thin layer of leaves or soil. After sprouting in 6 weeks, the plants can be transferred to pots.
• The roots of Coontie are toxic when taken internally, without sufficient preparation.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
• Endemic to central and southern Florida, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Haiti and maybe Cuba.