Join cactus and succulent expert and cycad enthusiast, Attila Kapitany, for a free webinar on Australian cycads. The webinar was held online for HMAA on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
Iconically Australian, yet many people may have never seen or heard of some of the superb species that Attila will be showing and talking about. This is primarily a visual introduction to some of Australia’s most beautiful and desirable native cycads.
Did you know we have 75 native species including silver cycads, blue cycads and miniature fern-like cycads? Some of these are prized around the world as they are suitable as pot plants or in ‘dry-climate’ gardens, especially among cacti and succulents as they need so little water and care.
To the casual observer, cycads may look like palms, or sometimes ferns. In reality cycads are more closely related to pine trees that produce pines cones. Many people only know cycads as being ancient and having co-existed with dinosaurs and think they all look pretty much alike. What other surprising things might we learn from this presentation!
Attila has for years, grown and promoted our best native cycads to all who would listen, including (in person) presentations to Australian and overseas audiences. He has also self-published a small book showcasing some of our most spectacular species. Allow Attila to show some exciting aspects and differences among these plants using exquisite images of native cycads in habitat and in cultivation. Ethnobotany is touched on as traditionally cycads were of immense value to indigenous people primarily as a food source.
Lastly, numerous attempts at introducing new Australian cycads through the horticulture industry have in the past been unsuccessful. Why? And where to from here? The answers to this and more about the fascinating topic of Australian native cycads will surely be a focus at the next International Conference on Cycads to be held in Sydney on August 17-22, 2026. Notably the topic of conservation through horticulture will be discussed.
