Dioon edule "Rio Verde" female specimen

Dioon edule 'Rio Verde' is a female specimen of one of Mexico's most remarkable and cold-hardy cycads — a slow-growing, architecturally striking plant native to the eastern Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo, Veracruz and Querétaro, where it grows on rocky limestone slopes and scrubland. The 'Rio Verde' provenance designates specimens originating from the Rio Verde region of San Luis Potosí, a population known for its compact, upright crown, narrow and distinctly recurved leaflets, and leaf colour ranging from deep green to muted blue-green — a more elegant and dense-crowned form than typical D. edule. As a female plant, it is capable of producing a large, impressive, woolly, pale beige cone when pollinated by a male of the same species. Considered Vulnerable (VU) in its wild range. Family Cycadaceae.

This is the most cold-hardy Dioon species in cultivation, withstanding temperatures down to approximately -12°C in established specimens — making it suitable for warm-temperate and Mediterranean gardens well beyond the typical range of other cycads. Full sun to light shade; very sharp drainage; dry-to-moderate watering.

• Female plant — capable of producing large woolly pale beige cones when pollinated
• Compact upright fronds with narrow, recurved leaflets; deep green to blue-green colour
• Rio Verde provenance, San Luis Potosí, Mexico — a particularly refined and elegant form
• Most cold-hardy Dioon in cultivation — tolerates approximately -12°C; suitable for warm-temperate gardens
• Slow-growing; Vulnerable (VU) in the wild; collector's specimen of significant botanical value

Dioon edule 'Rio Verde' (female) is an outstanding collector's cycad — the combination of exceptional cold hardiness, the elegant recurved-leaflet crown of the Rio Verde provenance, and the potential to produce impressive female cones make this a first-class specimen for any serious cycad collection or Mediterranean garden.

IMPORTANT: This plant will be sent bare root, without soil or pot. Plants destined for countries outside the EU will be sent with all leaves cut.