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Cardboard Palm

Zamia (ZAY-mee-ah)

Family: Zamiaceae Unknown Shrub

Zamia is a large genus of shrubs from tropical America, with one species from the southeastern USA. All the species produce leafy crowns of foliage that resemble palms or ferns, and most branch heavily with age to produce attractive clumps. They are mostly found in warm, humid, tropical habitats. Some produce short, above-ground stems, while others keep their stems underground. Some species can be grown as houseplants, and one called the cardboard palm ( Z. furfuracea ) is very popular. Grow in bright light and keep well-drained potting soil moist but not overly wet as that can cause root rot. These plants are highly toxic to pets.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 36 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Crassula ovata 'Variegata' Nerium oleander Yucca gigantea

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Clumping; Erect
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery; Smooth
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Turgid pinnately compound leaves with long arching petioles leaflets have entire margins resemble palms
Fruit color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit detail
Cone producing, resemble corn cobs
Stem detail
This plant is woody and develops basically underground.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
U.S.A, Mexico, South America
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants
Garden tags
#problem for cats #problem for dogs #problem for horses #houseplant #tropical feel #cycad #interiorscape #leathery leaves #container plant
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Fruits; Seeds
Poison symptoms
Vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, highly toxic to pets.
Toxic principle
cycasin
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
Low severity poison; parts: Fruits; Seeds

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.