Cycads have been described as living fossils.  They have been around since before the dinosaurs, over 250 million years ago, and they were once the dominant plant species over the face of the Earth.
They are woody plants which have roots, a stem, leaves and reproductive structures known as cones.
A plant is either male or female and the cones of each sex are usually quite different in size and shape and to a much lesser extent colour.  The seeds of cycads are  relatively large and have an outer layer which is often colourful. 
Cycads are a unique assemblage of plants and are unrelated to any other group of living plants.
Cycads are excellent horticultural subjects and are of value to groups other than collectors.

Landscapers find their primitive shapes and silhouettes appealing and their predictable dimensions extremely useful.  Many species make very decorative container plants and are excellent for indoor use where there is sufficient light.

Landscaping 
Cycads growth dimensions are well documented and entirely  predictable, thus a cycad can be chosen with confidence to fill a particular niche.  Small growing species are best sited towards the front and larger species towards the centre of a garden bed.  Ideal subjects for main features of garden bed or for lining footpaths and roads.

Architecturally striking landscape features.  Low maintenance  drought hardy plants.  (Xeraphytic)

Cycads are extremely decorative plants in the garden.  Their foliage is both distinctive and evergreen while a female plant in cone will be a feature for several months.  They blend in well in an indigenous garden filled with aloes and other succulents, yet are equally at home in a tropical setting with other foliage plants such as palms and tree ferns.
A crowded garden soon loses form and design.  Rather than display a collection of cycads position each plant so that it adds decorative value to your garden.  Shade loving  should be grouped under trees where the shade and moisture will result in more luxuriant foliage than if they are grown in the full sun.  The planting holes for the cycads should receive generous amounts of compost.  Regular water and fertilising is essential if they are to compete successfully with the tree roots.

Blue leaved species should be grown in full sun preferably in rockery conditions as these species require good drainage. T he blue colour of the leaves will disappear if they are grown under moist conditions in semi-shade.
Most cycads can put up with very cold winter conditions and even some light frosts without showing any signs of damage.  If any damage becomes evident it will only be superficial.  The plants should be in well draining situations with good mulch cover to protect against drying out.  

Mulching  -  mulches are highly beneficial to  cycads.  They should be  applied thickly as soon as possible after planting where practicable to minimise drying of the soil surface .
General Hints - containers used for growing Cycads should not be placed directly on the ground, but should be  raised  on blocks etc.

Maintenance

Soil  -  A wide range of soil types from sands and gravels to rocky  gardens and clay loams can be suitable.  Drainage is important.  No  Cycad will tolerate waterlogged soils for any length of time.

Watering  -s ufficient  water should be applied to thoroughly soak the root zone of the plants.  When established  plants survive on very little water

Fertilisers  -  inorganic fertilisers are water  soluble therefore the  nutrients quickly become available to the plants.  Fertilisers are best     applied during the warm months when the plants are in active growth.

Pruning  -  Cycads require some trimming of untidy, damaged, protruding or dead leaves but in general very little pruning is required of these plants.

Horticultural Appeal
Cycads along with palms, tree ferns and many other foliage plants are very popular subjects for cultivation.  Although other groups of plants attract an enthusiastic following, the attention paid to cycads is well out of proportion to the numbers of species found in the world. 
Cycads are very popular plants with the collector and cycad enthusiasts will go to extraordinary lengths to obtain new plants. Rare species and specimen plants are expensive and hence large collections represent a considerable outlay in time and money. A wide range of species are propagated by specialist nurserymen and new species are variants are constantly being introduced into cultivation. 
Cycads are excellent horticultural subjects and are of value to groups other than collectors. Landscapers find their primitive shapes and silhouettes appealing and their predictable dimensions extremely useful. Many species make very decorative container plants and are excellent for indoor use where there is sufficient light. As a bonsai subject, cycads are only rivalled  by their gymnosperm relatives.