Burrawang (Common Zamia) care

Light

Burrawang wants the spot a few feet back from a sunny window — bright enough to read a paperback at noon, but the sun never falls directly on the leaves. Prefers bright filtered light or part shade; established plants tolerate heavy shade but produce fewer, more lax fronds. Avoid intense midday sun on young plants, which scorches new fronds. A faint hand shadow at midday is the right amount; a sharp dark shadow means it's getting direct sun and probably too much.

Watering

Water burrawang water every 2–3 weeks in growing season, monthly or less in winter. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Drought-tolerant once established. Allow the top half of the soil to dry out between waterings; standing water at the crown causes rapid caudex rot.

Soil and pot

Burrawang grows best in coarse, free-draining sandy loam or cactus mix. Mix standard potting compost 1:1 with coarse grit or perlite. In the ground, raised beds or slopes with naturally sandy or rocky soil are ideal. Avoid clay-heavy ground. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Burrawang sits happiest at around 30–60 % humidity and 5–30 °C (41–86 °F). Tolerates the low humidity of heated interiors without issue. No misting needed; humid bathrooms are unnecessary and can promote fungal issues on the caudex. If you keep the room above 5–30 °C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed burrawang sparingly. Apply a slow-release balanced fertiliser (e.g. 10-10-10) once in spring; avoid high-nitrogen feeds that push soft, pest-prone growth. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on burrawang in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Caudex (crown) rot — The most common cause of death in cultivation. Caused by poorly draining soil or overwatering. Remove affected tissue, dust with sulphur fungicide, and repot into dry, gritty compost; do not water for two weeks.
• Scale insects — Armoured scale (Aulacaspis and others) colonise the undersides of fronds and along the rachis. Treat with horticultural oil spray, repeating every 10 days for three cycles; severe infestations may require a systemic insecticide.
• Chlorotic (yellowing) fronds — Often signals manganese deficiency, especially in alkaline soils or pots with limestone grit. Apply chelated manganese as a foliar spray in spring.

Propagation

Remove offsets (pups) from the base of the caudex in late spring, allow the cut surface to callous for 48 hours, then pot individually into dry gritty compost. Seed germination is very slow (3–12 months); soak fresh seed for 48 hours before sowing. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Burrawang is toxic to pets. Contains cycasin (methylazoxymethanol glucoside), the same hepatotoxic compound found in Cycas revoluta. Ingestion by dogs or cats causes vomiting, diarrhoea, haemorrhagic gastroenteritis, liver failure, and can be fatal within 24–48 hours. Seeds are most concentrated. ASPCA classifies the closely related Cycas and Zamia genera as toxic; Macrozamia shares the same toxic profile. Seek immediate veterinary care. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Burrawang deep-dive guides

Every aspect of burrawang care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Common burrawang problems & fixes
• Burrawang watering schedule
• Burrawang light requirements
• Best soil mix for burrawang
• Burrawang fertilizing guide
• When to repot burrawang
• How to propagate burrawang
• How to prune burrawang
• What's eating my burrawang?
• Burrawang growth rate & size
• Burrawang cold hardiness
• Burrawang temperature & humidity
• Is burrawang toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is burrawang toxic to cats?
• Is burrawang toxic to dogs?
• All 10 Macrozamia varieties

Featured in these plant shortlists

Burrawang qualifies for 7 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best low-light houseplants — Houseplants that need no direct sun and cope with a north-facing room or a spot well back from a window.
• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• Best houseplants for beginners — Forgiving of irregular light and watering — the houseplants least likely to die in a new plant parent’s first season.
• Houseplants toxic to cats & dogs — The common houseplants the ASPCA lists as toxic to cats and dogs — the ones to keep out of reach, each with its symptoms and a safe alternative.
• Best houseplants for a cool room — Houseplants that tolerate cool conditions down to about 10°C — for an unheated spare room, hallway, porch or a home kept cool.
• Best fast-growing houseplants — Houseplants documented as fast or vigorous growers — quick to fill a pot, cover a pole or trail down a shelf.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Burrawang is also known as Burrawang, Burrawang Cycad, and Common Zamia.

• Schmitz's Cycad care — light, water and common problems
• Congo Cycad care — light, water and common problems
• Pogge's Cycad care — light, water and common problems
• All 10153 plant care guides in the Growli library