Macrozamia macdonnellii

Macrozamia macdonnellii is a cycad native to southern Northern Territory, including the MacDonnell Ranges. Large pinnate bluish-green fronds radiate from its trunk. It does not flower: male and female cones occur on separate plants, and female cones partly enclose bright red, egg-sized seeds. [Northern Territory species profile](https://nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/376271/macrozamia-macdonnellii.pdf); [Kew Plants of the World Online](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/59233-3). ## Site and growth In its native range this cycad grows on rocky ground, especially in gorges and on steep, sheltered, shady slopes, with occasional records from exposed ridges. These habitat observations describe where it grows in the wild rather than a tested garden-care range. The NT profile reports a trunk to about 2 m, with trunks up to 4 m only in very old individuals; these figures are not a published overall garden height. ## Reproduction The species is dioecious, so male and female cones form on separate plants. Pollination is associated with a host-specific thrips. ## Maintenance Choose a sheltered, well-drained site and monitor it during hot, dry spells; the NT assessment identifies hotter drought as a threat to wild populations. No USDA hardiness range or routine pruning schedule was established in the consulted sources.