Encephalartos horridus, the Eastern Cape blue cycad, is a small, low-growing cycad up to 0.9 m (3.0 ft) high and 0.9 m (3.0 ft) 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.