Sago Palm: Growing and care for your cycas revoluta

Easily one of the most recognisable palms, and perhaps the most grown by home gardeners, is the sago palm (cycas revoluta. Its peacock-like fronds demand your attention in whatever setting their placed and their annual flowering display is not to be sniffed at either.

The sago palm isn't actually a palm but instead a cycad - more closely related to evergreen conifers than palm trees. Yet it somehow picked up the common tag of being a palm and is rarely referred to as a cycad other than by those who know. The difference: - palms are monocotyledons (seeds sprout only one leaf) while cycads are dicotyledons (you guessed it...they sprout two leaves from the seed). Hardly a big difference when you're trying to explain this plant's genetic background.

While this plant may not be a true palm, its shape and size make it one of the most utilised specimens in landscape tropical gardens. And why not? The foliage, as an architectural texture, is exquisite and as it grows the trunk adds the dimension of height.

Where can sago palms grow?

Almost anywhere the summers are warm and mild and where they will be sheltered out of frosts and snow. If kept in pots they can be grown in cold climates providing they are overwintered and your summers aren't too cold.

If your climate isn't characterised by frost-ridden winters then growing a sago palm in the ground is certainly an option. Obviously palms that grow in the ground have less maintenance requirements and can grow much taller than their pot-bound counterparts.

Problems with the sago palm

Slow growing - while they look fantastic when they're a decent size waiting around for them to grow can be an exercise in patience. In most cases they will only add 1-2" (2-5cm) per year - and that's a good year.

Great leaf catchers - because of their shape and growing habit, sago palms are great leaf catchers. This is a bonus if that's why you wanted to grow this plant but for most gardeners it can become they reason they rip them out. Therefore, plant them in a location that isn't beneath a deciduous or leaf-shedding tree.

They need warm summers - while sago palms can put up with cold winters they really struggle if they can't enjoy some summer warmth. If your summers don't average at least 20°C (70°F) then the sago cycad may not be an option for your garden.

They need sun - just like warm summers, cycas revoluta basks in full sun. While they will grow in shade and perform quite well in part-shade they can often become leggy and more disease-prone without at least half a day of full-sun.

Deadly to dogs - for those gardening pet-lovers keeping a sago palm and a dog in the same confines is asking for trouble. The seeds from the sago palm are extremely poisonous and will kill a dog within a few hours of digestion. And, don't think your children are immune - this can seriously harm them as well.

Caring for a sago palm

Apart from the growing conditions mentioned above sago palms are quite easy to care for. A feed of a balanced fertiliser every six months and caution taken when watering (they don't need much) is really all these plants require.

If your sago palm has become a leaf catcher then removing the built up compost from with the plants centre is paramount. Leaving it to rot down within the plant can cause a myriad of disease and fungus problems which are better prevented rather than trying to cure.

Does Sago come the sago palm?

Most of us have ~~enjoyed~~ endured sago at one point or another in our lives so it's not a dumb question to think that this plant may be the source of our child-based memories. However, the true source is from another palm (a real palm) also commonly known as the Sago Palm Metroxylon sagu.

Posted by Stuart on July 1, 2008 7:14 AM | Permalink | Check to Subscribe to this Comment:

Comments

I need the information about "Sago Palm Cycas Revoluta 3 Gallon" as if it's the indoors or outdoors plant, how often need to water it and etc.... Please let me know in ASAP.... Thanks

Posted by: Lu | September 14, 2008 5:53 PM

I have a healthy new Sago Palm that I've just planted into an outdoor pot, getting full sunlight. A day or two after planting it, about 2/3 of the leaves started drying out. Not the entire leave only about 1/8 - 1/4 on some leaves. When I transplanted it, I used a special liquid Vitamin B for transplanting and water it about once a wk to once every week & a 1/2 and usualy enough to wet the top of the soil sufficiently so it will soak down, but not drenching or flooding it. Hope you might be able to help with my dilema.
Thank you.

Posted by: Nancy | November 5, 2008 5:13 AM

I have two large sagos, one male and one female, growing close together. There are lots of baby plants, some getting pretty big, and I've left them alone beside the plant. The female cone has the orange seeds now, and they come out easily for replanting. Both plants had the different cones this year. My question, however, is how low in temperature can they go without covering them with a greenhouse type structure and heat lamps for warmth. We live in Mississippi, and sometimes it will get close to 25 degrees below. They are well established plants, and I do not want to loose them. Should I go to the trouble again this year to cover with the greenhoue and heat lamps to preserve. They are very large sagos and the structure needed to cover will be very large, and have to be removed in the spring. Will they survive without covering? Please advise. Paula Joyner

Posted by: Paula Joyner | November 8, 2008 12:29 AM

my Sago is spotted with some dead pieces easily torn off, am I watering too much, it is in a pot with full sun. Phoenix, arizona

Posted by: michelle | March 21, 2009 12:03 PM

I just picked up 2 baby Sago Palms from Lowes. The plants had been badly neglected and I also believe they were not watered as much as needed. I'm trying to bring the plants back and I'm not having any luck. The leaves are starting to die on the plants and I don't know what to do. Please advise.

Posted by: Audra | March 28, 2009 3:26 AM

I have sago plant but whenever the leaves going to grow, dont know what happen it will automatically dry up again. What's the problem and how to cure that

Posted by: Shareen Tan | March 31, 2009 3:29 PM

I have two Sagos that I originally planted about 7 years ago and then transplanted to our new home about 4 years ago. Both plants are (were) healthy until a year ago I (like a knucklehead) decided to kill a wasp nest on the male plant by spraying it with an instant knock down killer. One half of the leaves turned brown within a week so I cut all the leaves off hoping that I was helping. No new leaves have sprouted from the center but quite a few "offspring" have grown from the base of the plant. The "offspring have "centers" like the daddy and are quite healthy. My question is, will these "offspring" surrvive if I remove and replant them or are the just branches of the original plant.

Thanks

Posted by: Barry Moulder | April 5, 2009 7:10 AM

I have a sago seed how do i germinate it? I want to grow them.

Posted by: charlean berry | April 7, 2009 9:49 AM

I bought a healthy new Sago Palm pot, I put it in my backyard getting full sunlight. More than one week later, about 1/3 of the leaves started drying out. Not the entire leave only about 1/8 - 1/4 on some leaves.
Please advise and reply
Best regards
Hiep

Posted by: hiep Le | April 9, 2009 6:04 AM

If anyone is having a problem with the sago palm mysterious white fungus that looks like a white powder (that is an asian imported problem). I can help! There is a way to control (not cure) this disease! It is actually a cure, but the spores are wind born. Every time a sago gets infected a mile away it will re-infect yours! Feel free to contact me for the recipe to get rid of this problem.
ouellette47@gmail.com

Posted by: Paul | April 11, 2009 9:42 AM

I have a Sago that I planted about 2 hears ago. The top part is nice and green but all around the middle and lower leaves they are yellow. What do I need to do?

Posted by: Velma McCarty | April 15, 2009 4:51 AM

HELP!!! I have a large beautiful sago palm that has this white flakey stuff on it and looks as if it is killing my palm. Anyone know what it is?

Posted by: Missy | April 20, 2009 12:49 PM

My sago is growing 2 cones in its middle this year, is this normal, o.k. or not?

Posted by: chris | April 21, 2009 8:57 AM

I have an offset plant of a Sago which I planted in a pot about 6-8 months ago. It is now sprouting a green stalk from the top. What is the best direction in which to go at this time? Thanks

Posted by: Shelley | April 29, 2009 10:12 PM

I have a white fungus looking powder on sago's help I have lots of them and i cut all of them back but the fungus is still on trunk

Posted by: Robin | April 30, 2009 5:52 AM

what does it mean when all the leaves turn brown.Will it ever recover?

Posted by: chappy | May 3, 2009 4:12 AM

Should pups be removed from trunk of older tree?

Posted by: Robt Brown | May 10, 2009 3:23 AM

the cones you are seeing is it like a torpedo? if so its a male sago. its how they pollinate to a female sago. its a good thing.

Posted by: brian | May 12, 2009 1:32 PM

I have had my sage palm I bought from Lowes and each year the leaves start out nice then turn brown again, It hasnt grown any due to the continuous browning each year. I live in s. c. where it is really hot in the summer, Kinda cold in the winter. Thanks for your help.

Posted by: shirl | May 14, 2009 7:10 AM

How can I ask a question??

Posted by: Melanie | May 14, 2009 7:36 AM

Have 7 headed sago,lost all fronds at transplanting time. Please tell me how to make sago grow new fronds on top. It does have babies on bottom. It gets sun and no frost. Transplanted about three and half years ago. Age about 35 years old. Fertilized with store bought palm food once or twice a year 10-5-8
thanks Rose Hess

Posted by: Rose Hess | May 18, 2009 4:12 AM

I have two segos, one very large and about 15 years old. The other is one of its' babies!! I say its" because I don't knoe what the gender of the plant is. One year it has a large long flower like thing... This year it has a very large thing growing.. It looks like the femail end. I am told that this will produce the seeds and that the pland will die!! Help!!! Am I going to loose my favorite plant? Is there anything I can do to save it?

Posted by: Edward | May 25, 2009 9:20 AM

how do you know if one is female and one is male and are you suppose to have one of each for them to grow ?

Posted by: amanda wilson | June 2, 2009 6:26 AM

Had a healthy sago until the hurricane...top leaves turned brown but bottom stayed green. New growth this year came out a pretty green but are now also turning brown. Any Ideas what is wrong?

Posted by: Nancy Mazingo | June 15, 2009 3:04 AM

I have 2 sagos the frost got to the leaves and I cut them off close to the trunk, now 1 have a large cone in the middle and the other has as and dome in the middle and no new growth, what should I do?

Posted by: Rex Kirkland | June 16, 2009 2:45 AM

I have 2 sagos 1 has a large cone in the middle and the other has a round dome, frost damaged the leaves in the fall and I cut them off close to the trunk I have no new growth at this time what should I do?

Posted by: Rex Kirkland | June 16, 2009 2:49 AM

I have read most of these comments and questions but where do you go for the answers to them?

Posted by: Kathie Shepard | June 20, 2009 10:17 AM

What makes my sago leaves turn yellow? Are they going to die? How often should I water them? I live in Spring Tx. What fertlizer should I use? Thank you.

Posted by: Sandra Cowser | June 21, 2009 9:02 PM

this year my sago has a pod in the middle is this seed .it looks like a pinapple.

Posted by: Betty Harris | June 22, 2009 12:13 AM

I have a really old 40 year old sago and my gardener unfortunately cut all the gorgeous lower fronds. It now looks like a stump with hair! Now I know from some past butchering that it will grow taller and treelike. I can't have this in this area. Even though it is large I need it somewhat low and full. My question is can I lower the whole sago by uprooting it and burying it about a foot lower. This would solve my problem. Will this cause the roots to rot or should this be no problem? Any help on my dilemma would be so appreciated! What a great forum!

Posted by: Ari Ralston | June 27, 2009 9:09 AM

I guess I should clarify my last post. I suppose it is normal to keep cutting the bottom branches and let the sago grow taller but I don't want this to happen. I liked when it had bottom branches and was lower to the ground. I do not want it to look like a tall tree so my above question still stands. Thanks!

Posted by: Ari Ralston | June 27, 2009 10:41 AM

I have a tiny sago palm I bought about 3 years ago in the airport in Fuertaventura of all places.

It has been repotted twice during this time. it started with 3 palm branches, but in Jan this year sprouted 3 more (each branch is only 5inches long) however the older branches are now turning yellow and don't look healty green like the new ones.

I have feed the plant with green leaf plant food but this is the first plant I have every grown and I am unsure if it is on it's way out, can anyone help?

Posted by: Laura | July 2, 2009 5:48 AM

I forgot to say the sago is in a pot on the south facing window ledge.

Posted by: Laura | July 2, 2009 5:50 AM

My sago started to turn brown in the winter. I was about to throw it away when I read that this is a sign of drawing back 'energy' for new growth. As soon as I could I placed the pot out side as it looked rather tatty in my house. I have waited 4-5 months and low and behold it has sent out lovley soft, lush new 'fronds'. When can I safely cut off the old brown leaves? How long can I leave outside ( I live in UK). Is there any thing I should do to protect the new growth? I have noticed a few 'needles' have been knocked and damaged. I have carefully removed these. I'm so glad I did not give up on this plant even if it is vicious and I'm allergic to its 'bite'!!

Posted by: Debbie Robinson | August 15, 2009 1:17 AM

I have two sago palms; 1 male and 1 female. They are in an area by are pool. The trunks are about a foot in diameter. They need to be removed and replanted, due to the fact that they are crackinh the cement around the pool. How can I safely remove and replant them.

Posted by: Edwin Howes | August 28, 2009 1:23 AM

Dear Sir,
Please accept my best wishes.
I would a greatly appreciate helping me how to take care of my Cycas Revoluta I've just bought it two days ago and I really want to know how to take care of it. I've put it in a wide plot. and outdoor in a shade wall but no direct sunlight but a light. shade light.

and I don't know when to water it. and what to do?

Please help me.
Thank you in advance.
Waiting your generous reply.

Love
Omar F. Hamad
Mosul/ Iraq.

Posted by: Omar F. Hamad | August 28, 2009 4:59 AM

Sago palms are great palms. They are cycads none the less and can live up to 100 years. They are also cold tolerant. I like some of the info you gave. It was well put. I have two sago palms that i purchased from realpalmtrees.com and they are beautiful. One is even producing a cone and the other I think is a female. So cant wait till I get seeds.

Posted by: Jason | September 3, 2009 10:46 AM

My sago has turned yellow. Please tell me how to return it to its original healthy color.

Posted by: Mary Morris | September 17, 2009 7:38 AM

I have three large Sagos in my lawn--they have developed tiny white eggs over many of the leave espically lower babies that are starting come on-can I spray anything on it to save it --I have heard it could die--Hate that!! E-mail me pstaleyy@yahoo.com

Posted by: pat | October 6, 2009 12:30 AM

Can I know the best lighting and watering for the Sago plant in the pot as all knows that weather here in United Arab Emirates is humid and sunny?

Posted by: Yousef | October 11, 2009 5:22 PM

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