Although commonly referred to as a palm, the Cardboard Palm (Zamia furfuracea) actually belongs to the Cycad family, alongside the closely related Sago Palm. These resilient houseplants have withstood the test of time, predating, and surviving, the era of dinosaurs.

Unlike typical palms, the Cardboard Palm distinguishes itself with its leaves emerging not from fronds, but from a robust and chunky trunk known as a “caudex.” This caudex rests on the soil’s surface, partially submerged beneath the earth. From this sturdy base, stiff and leathery fronds arise, delicately ridged and reminiscent of corrugated cardboard in texture, hence its unique moniker. Initially upright, these fronds gracefully arch over time, forming a picturesque cascade within a beautifully arranged rosette.