Cycad prices in South Africa
Cycads are usually priced by the size of the caudex — the thick stem — measured in centimetres across at its widest point. A wider caudex means an older, slower-grown plant, so price climbs steeply with size. Species matters just as much: a spiny Eastern Cape plant and a common garden cycad of the same size sell for very different money.
Across the 16 plants currently listed on Cycad Central, the middle of the market works out at about R 220 per cm of caudex. Treat that as a starting point, not a valuation — condition, provenance, permits and whether the species has been confirmed by an expert all move the figure.
Asking prices by species
Taken from plants on sale right now. Where enough plants carry a caudex measurement, the middle rate per centimetre is shown alongside.
| Species | On sale | Asking price | Per cm of caudex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Encephalartos horridus | 11 | R 3,960 – R 8,360 | R 220 |
| Encephalartos aemulans | 1 | R 1,500 | R 71 |
| Encephalartos longifolius | 1 | R 1,100 | R 100 |
| Encephalartos nubimontanus | 1 | R 1,100 | R 100 |
| Encephalartos paucidentatus | 1 | R 960 | R 120 |
| Encephalartos transvenosus | 1 | R 1,300 | R 50 |
What moves a cycad's price
- Caudex width. Price per centimetre tends to rise on larger plants, because big plants are decades older and far scarcer.
- Species and form. Rare, slow, heavily spined species carry a premium over widely grown garden species.
- Confirmed identification. A plant whose species has been confirmed by an independent expert, with a Cycad Certificate on record, sells more easily than an unnamed one.
- Permits and paperwork. South African cycads are protected. Correct permits are part of the value; wild-collected plants may not be traded.
- Condition and roots. Suckers, seedlings and seed are priced quite differently from established plants.
Cycads for sale by area
GautengPretoriaJohannesburgWestern CapeCape TownKwaZulu-NatalDurbanEastern CapeMpumalangaLimpopoFree StateNorth WestNorthern Cape