This is another of our ”living fossil” plants, suriving on earth since the time of the dinosaurs. Cardboard palm belongs to the Cycad family (cycad is greek for ”palm” to which most cycads bear resemblance). Other cycads include the coontie palm and the sago palm (of course neither of these are palms but they really do look them!)
Cardboard palm has leaves 3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m) long that emerge from a central point forming a rosette. When grown in bright sunlight the rosette becomes a 3 foot high clump of tightly overlapping leaves that will slowly grow to 6 ft (1.8 m) in diameter. The thick leathery leaves are pinnate and have 5 in (12.7 cm) long by 1 in (2.5 cm) wide oval leaflets. They are slightly fuzzy and feel a little like cardboard when rubbed.
Because of its ruggedness, low maintence and drought tolerance, the cardboard palm is often used in commercial plantings.
The foliage emerges from a thick fleshy trunk that serves as a water reservoir in times of drought. Male and female reproductive structures (cones) form on separate plants. Even very young plants produce these interestingly shaped cones. When ripe, the female cone breaks to reveal an array of tightly packed, bright red 1 in (2.5 cm) seeds.
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