Can someone tell me what this is? It was a gift from my mom but she couldn't remember what it was called. All we know about it is that its exotic and its supposed to take up to a year for new growth to come in

Hello Leanne

It's a cycad, a young Zamia furfuracea.

This is also known as Cardboard Palm, though it is not a palm. Saw lots of them in Florida, took some seeds home, hope they grow.