Sago Palm

Scientific Name Family Common names

: Cycas Revoluta : Cycadaceae : Sago Palm tree, King sago, Palm cycad

Sago palm is a cycad, the oldest known of all living seed plants. This palm is slow growing and the older specimen will develop a thick, stout trunk about 9" and reach a height of 6 feet. It has a crown of dare dark glossy green feathery pinnate fronds (leaves) about 30" long growing in a circular pattern. The leaves are laden with numerous thin stiff and pointed, leathery leaflets about 4" long. Rather than continuously adding foliage, sagos produce a periodic 'flush' of new leaves, called a 'break'. Seeds are brownish-red, the shape of a flattened marble, about 30 mm( 1.25 ins) across. Also called Living fossils, this palm is native to the Far East. It is suitable both for indoor and outdoor use.

Cycads are dioecious, having both males and females. The female inflorescence is feather like, later forming a tightly packed seed head, closely covered by whitish miniature leaves. The male cone is pineapple shaped. When it is time to pollinate, females sagos begin to flower and male sagos produce cones. 

Sagos grow well in full sun but the rate of growth is extremely slow. The soil for growing this palm should be well drained and rich in humus. Propagation of sago palms is either by seed or by removal of offshoots or pups. Soak seed in water for several days, then remove the red skin, but leave the white hard seed coat. Plant the seed in well drained soil. Keep the plant in warm, lightly moist conditions and in filtered sunlight. Do not keep in wet conditions. Seeds will germinate within 3-9 months. But it may require more than three years of growth to reach a small bulb size of 1" in diameter.

Remove the pups growing at the base or along the sides of mature sagos. Remove all the leaves and roots from the pups. Allow the raw spot to dry and plant in well-drained soil or a sandy mixture so that half the ball or trunk is below soil level. Water thoroughly to ensure rapid growth. Roots will slowly begin to form and the first leaves appear several months later. At that time, apply a mild dose of fertilizer and water when almost, but not completely dry. Before repotting, allow the new plants to form a good root system.