[4] It is a native of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, and found in arid shrublands, most commonly on ridges and slopes with shallow soils.

[6] Naturally occurring Eastern Cape blue cycads can only be found around Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage districts of Eastern Cape, South Africa, which has a warm climate year round, average annual rainfall in the range of 250 to 600 mm (9.8 to 23.6 in) and summer temperatures up to 40 °C (104 °F).

[6] It prefers full sunlight and persists in a range of habitats including Karoo scrub, sourveld, deep fertile soil and open rocky ridges.

[6] Eastern Cape blue cycads are now available as a result of commercial distribution in nurseries and gardens throughout the world.

Although the Eastern Cape blue cycad can reproduce by suckering, more commonly reproduction requires insect pollination.