Encephalartos woodii growing in the East Conservatory
In January 2010, we posted a blog about our “King of the Conservatory,” Encephalartos woodii. The Encephalartos is the most prized plant in Longwood’s Conservatory since it is extinct in its native environment of South Africa. With very few of these plants left elsewhere around the world, Longwood Gardens is lucky to have a beautiful specimen growing in our East Conservatory.
Because the Encephalartos woodii is so rare, we were very anxious to propagate it and continue the Royal line. In July of 2009, Senior Gardener Joyce Rondinella and I propagated one of the “pups” from the Encephalartos. You can watch a video, below, of the propagation process:
We hoped the “pup” would produce roots and become strong enough to stand on its own and be crowned as our new “Prince.”
Pup growing on mother plant
I am proud to report that our Encephalartos pup has successfully survived its beginning years (the toughest), and has recently produced a healthy new flush of growth! We are thrilled—the success rate for getting the Encephalartos pups to survive on their own is low. Congratulations to Joyce, who has taken extremely good care of this young plant in her tropical growing house!
Joyce with the rooted Encephalartos (April 2011)
Come visit us in the Conservatory to see how our “King of the Conservatory” is growing, and ask how our new Prince is enjoying its newly found independence.
Hi you wonderful people,
In South Africa we would call the “pup” a sucker. How far, do you think are we from producing a female plant with the help of science?
I am want sucker woodii,how I ca get. Which nursery sale, Please advise me. Thank you.
Hi Ritchai! We’re sorry but we don’t know of any gardens or growers who currently are selling Encephalartos woodii pups. Since they are so rare, when a pup is successfully rooted, a garden will usually add the pup back into their collection. There are nearly 500 plants in private and public gardens around the world, but all specimens are cherished by their growers. Good luck in your search!
Dear Lorrie,
Can you put in touch with Joyce PRONTO? We’re planning a new conservatory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and there are a number of features in the Longwood bromeliad collection that we’d like to emulate. I think Joyce helped design that display.
Cheers, Tom Givnish, Henry Allan Gleason Professor of Botany, UW-Madison
Hi Tim!
We’ll have Joyce reach out to you at the email you provided in this post. Good luck with your new Conservatory! We would love to see pictures once it’s complete!