Fairy Lake cycad Cycas fairylakea
Fairy Lake cycad (Cycas fairylakea) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Cycadaceae family, native to Shenzhen and Guangdong, China (forest streamsides; described from Fairy Lake in 1996). It grows 1–2.5 m (3.3–8.2 ft) tall and 2–3.5 m (6.6–11 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about -2 °C (28 °F). Space plants about 2.5 m (8.2 ft) apart.
Plan Fairy Lake cycad in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Fairy Lake cycad at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Cycadaceae |
| Mature height | 1–2.5 m (3.3–8.2 ft) |
| Mature spread | 2–3.5 m (6.6–11 ft) |
| Spacing | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 3 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About -2 °C (28 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 4–9 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Shenzhen and Guangdong, China (forest streamsides; described from Fairy Lake in 1996) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇨🇳 China |
Is Fairy Lake cycad toxic?
- People: severely toxic
- Cats: severely toxic
- Dogs: severely toxic
- Parts: seeds, all parts
Cycads contain cycasin: all parts poisonous.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Fairy Lake cycad
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and moderate water.
See Fairy Lake cycad in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden (3 plants)
- Fairy Lake Botanical Garden (10 plants)
Questions about Fairy Lake cycad
- How far apart should I plant Fairy Lake cycad?
- About 2.5 m (8.2 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 2–3.5 m (6.6–11 ft).
- Does Fairy Lake cycad need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 3 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Fairy Lake cycad need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Fairy Lake cycad?
- It tolerates about -2 °C (28 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Fairy Lake cycad flower?
- From about May for 4–9 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Fairy Lake cycad poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is severely toxic; for dogs severely toxic; for people severely toxic. Cycads contain cycasin: all parts poisonous.
- What grows well with Fairy Lake cycad?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Fairy Lake cycad. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Fairy Lake Botanical Garden: cycad and fern collections, Shenzhen Fairy Lake Botanical Garden
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, IUCN
- Flora of China, Missouri Botanical Garden & Harvard University Herbaria (eFloras)
Notes and assumptions
- Critically endangered in the wild; the garden's namesake cycad, conserved in its Cycad Conservation Center.
- Long, arching, soft leaves (to 2–3 m) on a short trunk, in forest shade.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Sago cycad Cycas revoluta
- Siamese cycad Cycas siamensis
- Bigleaf hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla
- Rhododendron Rhododendron
- Boxwood Buxus sempervirens
- Oleander Nerium oleander
- Common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
- Camellia Camellia japonica