Dioon spinulosum or the Blue Fern Palm is a handsome palm-like cycad with a slender stem.
At the top of the stem there’s a rosette shaped crown of arching and ascending compound leaves that have spiny leaflets that are bluish when new, ageing to dark green.
This is one of the largest cycads and is quite slow growing - taking around 100 years to reach full height of over 15 metres. However they will normally attain a height of around five metres in a domestic garden setting.
They prefer a tropical or sub-tropical climate, though have been successful in larger glasshouses or conservatories. Dioon spinulosum will also make a powerful impact in a large tub, providing you have space enough around it to enjoy its very attractive shape and texture.