The Eastern Cape Blue Cyca (Encephalartos horridus) is a small, low-growing cycad up to 0.9m (3 feet) high and 0.9m (3 feet) wide. It is a native of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, and found in arid shrublands, most commonly on ridges and slopes with shallow soils. The species is particularly known for its distinctly blue-gray leaves, although the degree of coloration can vary significantly. The species name horridus is Latin for 'bristly', after the plant's stiff, spiny leaflets.