Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Bolivian Zamia (Zamia boliviana)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Bolivian Zamia, Bolivian Cycad.

More about bolivian zamia

About Bolivian Zamia

Zamia boliviana · also called Bolivian Zamia, Bolivian Cycad · tropical

Zamia boliviana is a rare cycad native to the humid tropical and cloud-forest margins of Bolivia, representing the southernmost extent of the Zamia genus in South America. It produces upright to arching pinnate fronds from a short above-ground trunk and grows in moderately shaded forest conditions with high rainfall. The most important care point is consistent moisture combined with excellent drainage — it dislikes prolonged drought more than most Zamia species. All parts are severely toxic to pets and humans.

Cold limit: USDA 10–12 · RHS H1b (15–28°C)

What bolivian zamia's hardiness rating actually means

Bolivian Zamia is not cold hardy. It is a tropical houseplant that dies if it is left out through frost — there is no zone where it overwinters outdoors in a UK or cold-US climate. Its RHS rating of H1b means: Sub-tropical — a normal warm home is fine, but it cannot go outside in a cool season. On the US scale that maps to USDA 10–12 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about 10 °C (sustained cold below this is damaging). Bolivian Zamia has no frost tolerance at all — it is an indoor plant in any climate with a real winter.

Concretely, for bolivian zamia as it gets too cold:

Below about about 10 °C, growth stalls and the leaves start to show cold stress — dark, water-soaked, or yellowing patches.
A single light frost blackens the foliage; a hard freeze kills the whole plant, roots included, and it does not recover.
Even a cold, draughty windowsill or an unheated porch in winter can be enough to damage it permanently.

Can bolivian zamia go outside or overwinter — and where?

It can holiday outdoors in summer once nights are reliably above 10 °C, in shade or dappled light, hardened off gradually.
Bring it back indoors well before the first autumn frost — do not wait for a frost warning, move it when nights drop toward 10-12 °C.
It will never overwinter outside in a temperate climate; the indoors is its winter home, full stop.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when bolivian zamia can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H1b figure above.

Bolivian Zamia hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is bolivian zamia cold hardy?

Bolivian Zamia is not cold hardy. It is a tropical houseplant that dies if it is left out through frost — there is no zone where it overwinters outdoors in a UK or cold-US climate. Indoor-only in almost every home. Bolivian Zamia can only live outside year-round in genuinely frost-free climates (roughly USDA 10–12); everywhere else it is a houseplant that summers out at most.

What is the minimum temperature bolivian zamia can survive?

What hardiness zone is bolivian zamia?

Bolivian Zamia is rated USDA 10–12 and RHS H1b — Sub-tropical — a normal warm home is fine, but it cannot go outside in a cool season.

Can bolivian zamia survive winter outside?

It can holiday outdoors in summer once nights are reliably above 10 °C, in shade or dappled light, hardened off gradually. Bring it back indoors well before the first autumn frost — do not wait for a frost warning, move it when nights drop toward 10-12 °C. It will never overwinter outside in a temperate climate; the indoors is its winter home, full stop.

What happens to bolivian zamia below its minimum temperature?

Below about about 10 °C, growth stalls and the leaves start to show cold stress — dark, water-soaked, or yellowing patches. A single light frost blackens the foliage; a hard freeze kills the whole plant, roots included, and it does not recover. Even a cold, draughty windowsill or an unheated porch in winter can be enough to damage it permanently.