Cycads are one of the oldest extant seed plant groups; the earliest cycad fossil record comes from the late Permian stratum about 280 million years ago in Shanxi, China. Cycads flourished in the Mesozoic era and were important plants in the age of dinosaurs. The living cycads have only about 350 species in 2 families and 10 genera, scattered in the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. They are of great significance for the study of the origin and evolution of seed plants, paleogeological and paleoclimatic changes, as well as the co-evolution of plants and the other creatures. Therefore, most of them are under key conservation all over the world. In secular life, cycads are precious ornamental plants in gardens and have always been loved by people.

SZBG has been collecting and propagating cycads from all around the world since 1989 and has established them as a core conservation group for the Garden. So far, more than 240 species in 2 families and 10 genera of cycad have been collected, and the main conservation site is in the Center of National Cycad Germplasm Conservation (Cycad Garden).