Encephalartos woodii For Sale | The Ultimate Rarest Cycad 2026 – Variegated Plant Shop
$1,500.00
Plant Name: Encephalartos woodii
Height: Up to 2 meters (in cultivation)
Light Requirement: Full sun to partial shade
Watering: Low (drought-tolerant once established)
Soil: Well-draining, sandy or rocky soil
Hardiness Zone: 9–11
Growth Rate: Very slow
Leaf Appearance: Glossy, dark green, arching fronds with stiff, spiny leaflets
Origin: oNgoye Forest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Special Features: Extremely rare; extinct in the wild; perfect for collectors
Container Friendly: Yes – ideal for large pots and landscape focal points
Toxicity: Non-toxic to humans and pets
Maintenance Level: Low
Encephalartos woodii For Sale – The World’s Rarest Cycad, Ships Worldwide
The Encephalartos woodii — known as Wood’s Cycad — is widely regarded as the rarest plant on Earth available for private ownership. Only one plant was ever found in the wild, discovered in the oNgoye Forest of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
No female specimen has ever been identified, making natural reproduction impossible.
Every plant in existence today — including ours — is a clone descended from that single original specimen.
It is estimated there are around a thousand plants in cultivation worldwide, and specimens sell for thousands of dollars. This is the Holy Grail for cycad collectors. International Plant Names Index
We ship Encephalartos woodii worldwide with full CITES documentation, phytosanitary certificates, and export/import permits handled by our technical team — so you don’t have to navigate the paperwork alone.
Why This Plant Is Unlike Anything Else
- Extinct in the wild — owning one is a piece of living botanical history
- Every specimen is a direct genetic clone of the one original plant ever found
- Leaves are a dark glossy green, 2 to 3 meters long, with a gracefully arching shape giving a dense umbrella-shaped crown even in young specimens.
- Grows large and massive — up to 20 feet tall with a 30-inch trunk diameter at full maturity
- Low maintenance once established — ideal for serious collectors and botanical gardens alike
- Non-toxic to humans and pets
why is this plant extremely rare and expensive?
Encephalartos woodii Care Guide
- Light: Full sun to partial shade — thrives outdoors in warm climates
- Water: Drought-tolerant once established; water moderately during the growing season
- Soil: Well-draining, sandy or rocky mix — never allow roots to sit in standing water
- Temperature: Hardiness zones 9–11; protect from prolonged frost
- Growth rate: Very slow — pushes one new flush of leaves approximately once per year
- Container: Yes — does well in large statement pots or as a landscape focal point
Shipping & Documentation
International shipments require a CITES permit, phytosanitary certificate, export/import permit, and customs declaration. Our team handles all of this for you. Contact us before ordering for a full shipping quote and timeline to your country.
Here’s an intimate guide on how to ship this plant and the required documents explained in details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Encephalartos woodii so rare? It is the only known plant species where just a single wild specimen was ever discovered — and it was male, with no female ever found. All plants today are asexual clones, making it irreplaceable and finite.
How many exist in the world? Approximately 1,000 plants are estimated to be in cultivation globally, spread across botanical gardens and private collectors.
Is it legal to buy and own? Yes, with proper CITES documentation — which we fully facilitate for every international order.
Can I request photos before buying? Absolutely. Email sales@variegatedplantshop.com and we’ll send current photos of the exact plant available.
Jongno –
Absolutely impressed with the Encephalartos woodii we ordered from here! We placed a mass order of 30 plants for our company, and while it was a bit of a logistical hassle to get everything shipped including CITES, phytosanitary, and export documentation and it was definitely worth it.
Each plant ended up costing around $1500 with all the paperwork and shipping included, but the quality and health of the plants exceeded our expectations. You don’t often find rare cycads handled with this level of professionalism and care.
I’m so happy we found a shop like yours. We’re already planning our next order and likely the Encephalartos horridus or any other collector-grade cycads you might have in stock. Highly recommend!
kim jong –
been looking for this plant all my life, i’ll pay a fortune for it
i just placed my order and i hope it what it is cus im so fucking anxious right now
i know they had been extinct but you guys showing me real photos of it actually caught me offguard and im here spending 2000 already.
its a long way to south korea tho and im not worried about customs because my company will cover for it
ill alos like to buy the horridus in bulk but i have to wait 20days or so for tis to come through