Encephalartos longifolius 'Blunt tip form'

Encephalartos longifolius 'Blunt tip form' retains the full identity of this named horticultural form of Thunberg's cycad. It is an evergreen, palm-like cycad with a crown of long pinnate leaves and a stout caudex, suited to a spacious specimen planting where the foliage can be seen clearly. ## Species character The [PlantZAfrica account from SANBI](https://pza.sanbi.org/encephalartos-longifolius) describes E. longifolius as an Eastern Cape cycad with mostly erect stems, glossy dark-green leaves, and up to ten stems arising from the base. The final third of the leaves curves downward to create a compact umbrella-like crown. [Fairview Nursery](https://fairviewnursery.com/plants/cycads/) lists the exact 'Blunt tip form' name, preserving this selection identity within the species. ## Siting SANBI records the species in varied Eastern Cape habitats and recommends full sun; its garden attributes also include morning or afternoon semi-shade. The species is listed as a good pot plant, so a large container is an option where drainage and winter conditions can be managed. ## Maintenance Use a free-draining growing medium and leave the growing point clear of standing water. Remove only fully dead leaves. Avoid treating the named form as a separate botanical species; retain the selection label when sourcing or documenting plants.