the natal cycad grows to a height of or more. it may have a single trunk or may be branched from the base. the trunk is topped by a rosette of large, evergreen, pinnate leaves somewhat twisted near the tip, which may be long. the leaflets are dark green and about wide; they may be untoothed, or they may have one or more small prickles on either edge. the longest leaflets are in the centre of the leaf, and the leaflets nearest the leaf base may be replaced by spines, a fact that distinguishes this cycad from the otherwise similar "encephalartos altensteinii". the natal cycad is dioecious, having male and female cones on separate plants. the male cones are velvety and about in size. pollen is produced from april to june. the two or three female cones are slightly woolly, yellowish-green and cylindrical, in size, the scales being covered with small knobs. the cones split open when ripe revealing the bright red seeds which are about long.