The Arizona Palm and Cycad Association is dedicated to increasing the availability, knowledge and enjoyment of palms and cycads suitable to the lower Sonoran Desert environs of the Phoenix and Tucson area.

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The Arizona Palm and Cycad Association evolved through the common interest of local enthusiasts passionate about palms and cycads. We endeavor to increase the knowledge, propagation, availability, landscape use, and overall enjoyment of the many species of these plants suitable to the lower Sonoran Desert environments. Because of the extremes of temperature (both hot and cold) that we experience here, many people are surprised to discover the large number of palm and cycad species that thrive in the Phoenix and Tucson regions. Members of our group have been successfully growing more than four different genera and seventeen different species of palms and more than seven different genera and fifteen different species of cycads. The palms and cycads in the photos on our web site are all growing in Arizona.

If you would like to learn more about growing and enjoying new as well as established species of palms and cycads in the Sonoran Desert or would like to share your passion and achievements with others please join us! Membership is only $25 per year and entitles you to attend all our meetings plus additional benefits.

To join or to renew your yearly membership please send $25 to P.O. Box 42945, Phoenix AZ 85080-2945 - attention Mark Kiah, Treasurer. Please make your check payable to The Arizona Palm and Cycad Association.

Some of the past meetings of the Arizona Palm and Cycad Association

April 4, 2009, at the home of Monte and Cynthia Crawford in Apache Junction, Arizona. John Lavranos was our guest speaker. John Lavranos is perhaps the preeminent botanical explorer and adventurer of the later part of the 20th century. He has described several African Encephalartos and many succulents. His slide show will span nearly 50 yrs of his travels. The topics included African cycads, arboresent aloes and xerophytic dracaena. This gathering was open to all members of the Arizona Palm and Cycad Society who are currently paid as of 2009 dues as well as members of the National Cycad Society. As usual, food and drink were served.

October 18th, 2008, at a private garden in Phoenix Arizona. Palm expert Bob Claesgens hosted at his tropical paradise in South Phoenix. Of especial interest were examples of his cross of Phoenix rupicola and Phoenix reclinata. Bob states that the rupicola, although a beautiful palm, is much too slow growing and that the cross of it and the reclinata provides a quicker-growing tree with all of the beauty of a rupicola. There were also examples of Paurotis and Sable palms and many cycads. The meeting went from 1 p.m. to about 4:30 p.m. and refreshments were served including some very tasty chocolate-chip cookies!

April 26, 2008, at a private garden in Phoenix, Arizona. Arizona palm expert Scott Walkowicz presented on his recent trip to Santo Domingo. Refreshments and food were served. Palm and cycad seeds were distributed to all current paid members of the association. Members brought palms and cycads for sale. The meeting began at noon and the presentation went from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. followed by a short officers meeting.

February 2, 2008, at a private residence in Phoenix, Arizona. The festivities began at noon, with a presentation by palm and cycad expert Tom Broome of Florida at 2 pm. Tom is a famous authority on propagation and growing in general. He shared two decades of knowledge and tips on cycad and palm cultivation, including very interesting information on cycad propagation. Membership in the association was not required. Refreshments were served.

November 10, 2007, at a private residence in Apache Junction, Arizona. Renown cycad expert Loran Whitelock was the guest speaker. His presentation was on "Possible Cycads for the Phoenix Climate" which included Ceratozamia hildae, Ceratozamia zaragozae, Ceratozamia zoquorum, Cycas angulata, Cycas basaltica, Cycas beddomei, Cycas brunnea, Cycas cairnsiana. Cycas calciola, Cycas couttsiana, Cycas furfuracea, Cycas lane-poolei, Cycas media, Cycas megacarpa, Cycas panzhihuanensis, Cycas platyphilla, Cycas pruinosa, Cycas taitungensis, Cycas tanshachana, Dioon califanoi, Dioon caputoi, Dioon edule subspecies edule, Dioon edule subspecies angustifolium, Dioon holmgreni, Dioon merolae, Dioon purposii, Dioon sonorense, Dioon tomaselli, Encephelartos caffer, Encephelartos cerinus, Encephelartos cupidus, Encephelartos cycadifolius, Encephelartos dolomiticus,Encephelartos dyerianus, Encephelartos eugene-maraisii, Encephelartos friderici-guilielmi, Encephelartos ghellickii (grass veldt form), Encephelartos hirsutus, Encephelartos horridus, Encephelartos humilus, Encephelartos inopinus, Encephelartos laevifolius, Encephelartos lanatus, Encephelartos latifrons, Encephelartos lehamnni, Encephelartos longifolius, Encephelartos middleburgensis, Encephelartos nubimontanus, Encephelartos princeps, Encephelartos trispinosus, Lepidozamia peroffskynana, Macrozamia communis, Macrozamia diplomera, Macrozamia dyeri, Macrozamia fraseri, Macrozamia glaucophylla, Macrozamia heteromera, Macrozamia johnsonii, Macrozamia macdonnellii, Macrozamia moorei, Macrozamia riedlei, Macrozamia stenomera, Stangeria eriopus, Zamia angustiolia, Zamia encepharlartoides, Zamia furfurcea, Zamia inermis, Zamia lucayana and Zamia spartea.

April 28th, 2007, at a private residence in Scottsdale, Arizona. Members brought their plants for sale or trade. Bryan Brown gave a presentation of his trip to the Amazon.

October 28, 2006, at a a private garden in Apache Junction, Arizona. Susan and Bruce Ironmonger presented slides of their recent trip to cycad habitat in South Africa. Hard-to-find Australian cycads were available for purchase. Refreshments were served.

More meetings continued on page 2

Cycad Posters — “Key to the Species of Dioon”, “Key to the Species of Ceratozamia”

The Cycad Society is now offering a “Key to the Species of Dioon” and "Key to the Species of Ceratozamia" posters for sale, beautifully printed in full color and suitable for framing. The price is only $20 plus shipping. To order a copy, contact Tom Wichman, the Education Director of The Cycad Society, at education@cycad.org . Proceeds from the sale of the posters will go toward cycad research, conservation, and/or education.

The Arizona Palm and Cycad Association would like to thank our sponsors

Direct inquiries relating to sponsorship/advertising on this site to Mark Kiah

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Contents © 2009 The Arizona Palm and Cycad Association. For permission to use images and information from this web site please e-mail Association President Nick Argyros.