From a gardening point of view, Stangeria is a most attractive plant with its large fern-like leaves, and is an ideal plant for shady gardens. They are long-lived and require little maintenance once established. Stangeria is also an ideal pot plant provided they are planted in a large container which provides plenty of room for root development. Restricting root development retards the growth of the plant and it tends to struggle.

This species does best in shady areas in a well-drained soil. Planted in a group of three or five will create an attractive large group featuring their large, fern-like leaves. Suitable companion plants would be are Plectranthus species, Scadoxus multiflorus subsp. Katharinae, Clivia miniata, C. gardenia, C. caulescens and Crinum moorei.

When planting a group of Stangeria, space them one metre apart, adding plenty of mature compost and bone meal in the hole before planting. To maintain a healthy plant, regular feeding is essential. A 50-mm layer of well-matured compost applied as a mulch in the autumn helps to improve the soil and benefits the plants. In early spring apply a mixture of bonemeal, organic fertilizer and a balanced inorganic fertilizer to each plant.

High-pressure irrigation systems which produce a strong jet of water will destroy those beautiful leaves; rather use an irrigation system which provides a gentle application of water.

The only pests which I have encountered that are detrimental to Stangeria are mealy bugs. They need to be sprayed with a systemic insecticide.

Propagation of Stangeria eriopus can be achieved by sowing seed or by rooting leaf-stem cuttings. Provided both male and female plants are planted in a group, they will be pollinated by insects or wind and viable seed will be produced. As the female cone begins to disintegrate, the seed should be harvested. Place the seed in water for a day and then remove all of the soft tissue. The clean seeds are then stored in a cool, dry place until the following spring when it is sown on a bed of clean, coarse sand which has a bottom heat of 25-28°C. The seeds are pushed into the sand so as that they are level with the surface of the sand. Water each day and within two months the seeds begin to germinate by producing a root followed by leaves. Within10 months the seedlings are removed and potted into a 3-litre plastic sleeve containing a well-drained growing medium which contains some agricultural lime. The seedlings are watered sparingly until they show signs of growth. Within a year these seedlings need to be repotted into 30-cm pots to encourage the plants to develop. Keeping Stangeria in small containers prevents them from growing. Once in the open ground they develop well.

To produce plants from cuttings, an entire leaf needs to be broken off the stem of the plant. This ensures that a portion of stem is attached to the base of the cutting which is essential for rooting. The leaf itself is trimmed back to prevent loss of moisture. The base of the cutting is treated with a rooting hormone and placed in a rooting medium of clean, coarse sand at a depth of 8 cm. Within 10-14 weeks, callus and root development occurs and after 18 months a well-developed root system is established.