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Sago/ Cycas revolta
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Sago Palm - Cycas Revoluta
Information Page
Sago Palm, Cycas revoluta
Rated 15°F
The Sago Palm has become a very popular
landscape item.
But most people don’t realize that it is not a palm
at all, but rather a cycad. Cycads are a group of
plants that are very primitive in their origins.
Fossils have been found on almost every
continent on the planet. It is often stated that
cycads have evolved little since the days of
the dinosaurs.
There are species that have gone extinct, while
there are others that seemed to show little
evolution over millions of years. Therefore as a
group, cycads are often referred to as “living
fossils”. The scientific name for the Sago Palm is
revoluta. cycas refers to the genus, the genus
refers to a particular group of similar plants in the
Cycad family and revoluta further describes the
exact species of the group Cycas. The latter was
given to this species because of the revolute (to
curl back) nature of the leaflets; the edges roll
under the leaflet.
The Sago Palm is the most propagated and sold
cycad in the world. It is seen in almost all
botanical gardens, in temperate and tropical
locations and in many areas of the world it is
heavily promoted commercially as a landscape
plant. Unfortunately, its common name "Sago
Palm" has obscured the fact that it is actually a
cycad. Other names for this species include the
sago palm tree, the king sago, and, because of
unfamiliarity with it, the palm cycad.
Rated 15°F
The Sago Palm has become a very popular
landscape item.
But most people don’t realize that it is not a palm
at all, but rather a cycad. Cycads are a group of
plants that are very primitive in their origins.
Fossils have been found on almost every
continent on the planet. It is often stated that
cycads have evolved little since the days of
the dinosaurs.
There are species that have gone extinct, while
there are others that seemed to show little
evolution over millions of years. Therefore as a
group, cycads are often referred to as “living
fossils”. The scientific name for the Sago Palm is
revoluta. cycas refers to the genus, the genus
refers to a particular group of similar plants in the
Cycad family and revoluta further describes the
exact species of the group Cycas. The latter was
given to this species because of the revolute (to
curl back) nature of the leaflets; the edges roll
under the leaflet.
The Sago Palm is the most propagated and sold
cycad in the world. It is seen in almost all
botanical gardens, in temperate and tropical
locations and in many areas of the world it is
heavily promoted commercially as a landscape
plant. Unfortunately, its common name "Sago
Palm" has obscured the fact that it is actually a
cycad. Other names for this species include the
sago palm tree, the king sago, and, because of
unfamiliarity with it, the palm cycad.
Description Of The Sago Palm
Sago Palms have erect, sturdy trunks that are typically
about one to two feet in diameter, sometimes wider
and can grow into very old specimens with twenty feet
of trunk. The leaves are a dark olive green and about
three to four feet long when the plants are of a
reproductive age. They can be longer if not grown in
full sun. Trunks can branch multiple times, thus
producing multiple heads of leaves. The trunks are
rough and retain the old leaf bases of previous leaves.
It is also the norm that plants will produce basal offsets
or “suckers” at the base of the main trunk. Thus one
gets a cluster of many plants and trunks with time. The
petiole or stems of Cycas revoluta have small
protective barbs or hooks that one must avoid during
pruning. An older plant with a well-established trunk will
have foliage overhead. Younger plants look like a
rosette of leaves coming from a stem near the ground.
Sago Palms have erect, sturdy trunks that are typically
about one to two feet in diameter, sometimes wider
and can grow into very old specimens with twenty feet
of trunk. The leaves are a dark olive green and about
three to four feet long when the plants are of a
reproductive age. They can be longer if not grown in
full sun. Trunks can branch multiple times, thus
producing multiple heads of leaves. The trunks are
rough and retain the old leaf bases of previous leaves.
It is also the norm that plants will produce basal offsets
or “suckers” at the base of the main trunk. Thus one
gets a cluster of many plants and trunks with time. The
petiole or stems of Cycas revoluta have small
protective barbs or hooks that one must avoid during
pruning. An older plant with a well-established trunk will
have foliage overhead. Younger plants look like a
rosette of leaves coming from a stem near the ground.
Growing Sago Palms
Growing of Cycas revoluta is not difficult if simple rules are
followed. First, do give ample root depth by picking a pot or
deep or more (a smaller container can be used when the
plant is small). It is quicker and easier to grow Cycas
revoluta in the ground as opposed to a container. In
general, Sago Palms need sun to grow well. In coastal areas,
it is best to plant them in full sun. In more interior locations
or desert localities, they still prefer good sun or at least part
day sun. Growing the Sago Palm in the shade typically gives
one lanky, stretched-out leaves that are weak. If in too
much shade, this species can actually just stall and do
nothing (such as refusing to throw any new leaves).
The Sago Palm can be grown inside the house near a bright
window. Like other cycads, they do not want to be
over-watered. Let the soil dry out a bit before watering. Try
to avoid overhead watering; this may cause rot and
possibly total decay of the plant. The soil mix should be
quick draining. The plants are quite cold hardy and can
tolerate temperatures below 20° F. Overall, it is an available
species that is quite versatile and easy to grow. It is usually
free from pests but can occasionally get into problems with
scale or mealybug, which should be treated. Fertilizing with a
balanced tropical fertilizer with microelements will usually
suffice. Sagos typically throw a new set of leaves during the
Spring or Summer.
Growing of Cycas revoluta is not difficult if simple rules are
followed. First, do give ample root depth by picking a pot or
deep or more (a smaller container can be used when the
plant is small). It is quicker and easier to grow Cycas
revoluta in the ground as opposed to a container. In
general, Sago Palms need sun to grow well. In coastal areas,
it is best to plant them in full sun. In more interior locations
or desert localities, they still prefer good sun or at least part
day sun. Growing the Sago Palm in the shade typically gives
one lanky, stretched-out leaves that are weak. If in too
much shade, this species can actually just stall and do
nothing (such as refusing to throw any new leaves).
The Sago Palm can be grown inside the house near a bright
window. Like other cycads, they do not want to be
over-watered. Let the soil dry out a bit before watering. Try
to avoid overhead watering; this may cause rot and
possibly total decay of the plant. The soil mix should be
quick draining. The plants are quite cold hardy and can
tolerate temperatures below 20° F. Overall, it is an available
species that is quite versatile and easy to grow. It is usually
free from pests but can occasionally get into problems with
scale or mealybug, which should be treated. Fertilizing with a
balanced tropical fertilizer with microelements will usually
suffice. Sagos typically throw a new set of leaves during the
Spring or Summer.
Warning: Sagos contain toxins that can be
harmful to dogs and 50-75% of All dogs who
ingest any sago palm go on to develop liver
failure at 24 – 48 hours after ingestion.
ASPCA
harmful to dogs and 50-75% of All dogs who
ingest any sago palm go on to develop liver
failure at 24 – 48 hours after ingestion.
ASPCA
