What are cycads worth?
Collectors pay for cycads by the seed or centimetre of caudex length. With some plants fetching US$1000 per seed, a plant no more than a metre high could be worth US$100,000 – the value of a decent-sized rhino horn.
Why are cycads so expensive?
Because of their rarity and attractiveness as garden elements, cycads have great commercial value, particularly for “bragging rights”.
Can I sell my cycad?
The question one should ask oneself “How legal are the cycads in my garden?” Since May 2012 it is prohibited to harvest, trade, sell, buy, import, export, donate, convey or receive any wild cycads, even the plants that have possession permits.
What is the most expensive cycad in the world?
The most expensive cycad in U.A.’s collection, an Encephalartos latifrons, takes about 15 years to seed and is nearly extinct in its native South Africa. Its value: $18,000.
Do I need a license for a cycad?
All cycads are protected and require a permit. Various permits are needed for any activity that relates to cycads such as possession, transport, growing, buying or selling.
How old do cycads get?
Cycads are incredibly long-lived, with some individuals in the wild estimated to be around 1,000 years old. One of the oldest cycads “in captivity” is in Kew Gardens in London, and it at least 228 years old. Part of the secret of their longevity is that they grow very slowly – producing just a few leaves each year.
Why do you need a permit for cycads?
All cycads are protected and require a permit. Because cycads are protected by the national and provincial legislation, as a buyer you must ensure that you know where your plants come from and that you have a permit for owning the plant. We have 15 years of experience in cycad growing, propagating and selling.
How do I get a cycad permit?
Send an email to Violet at: [email protected] or [email protected] and indicate that you want to apply for a cycad permit. They will send the forms to be filled out. If you do not receive a response, call Violet on 063 6952 107 or Adam on 064 880 2044.
What is the rarest cycad?
Encephalartos woodii, Wood’s cycad, is a rare cycad in the genus Encephalartos, and is endemic to the oNgoye Forest of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is one of the rarest plants in the world, being extinct in the wild with all specimens being clones of the type.
How many cycads are left?
Cycads are the oldest living species of seed plants in the world. They date back 340 million years and have survived three mass extinctions. There are 347 species of cycad left today and while many thrive in areas that are free from development, cycads are one of the most threatened families of plant in the world.