Cycas revoluta
For an telling dose of prehistoric drama , consider sago palm .
The Cycad genus in the Cycadaceae family includes over 100 coinage , with the most common beingCycas revolutaor the mogul sago , the main focus of this article .
Like fern , these giant beauties have been around since before the dinosaurs , and their stunning showing is unfeignedly evocative of an old age long gone .
Photo by Gretchen Heber.
In fact , they ’re sometimes referred to as “ living fogy , ” date stamp back to the early Mesozoic Era without much alteration since then .
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Dark green and lush with sturdy foliage , if you live in a tender clime geographical zone or you ’re take care for a new plus to your indoor garden , this plant is for you .
Photo by Gretchen Heber.
Here ’s what ’s to come in this article :
Growing Sago Palm
Let ’s learn more !
Cultivation and History
While “ palm ” is part of their vulgar name , sago palms are not reallypalm treesat all . They ’re cycad , a radical of seed plants with ancient roots related tocone - have conifers .
Other name calling for this case of sago palm include king sago , palm cycad , or Nipponese funeral palm .
aboriginal to the southernmost island of Japan , the leaves were traditionally used in funeral arrangements in the Land of the stand up Sun .
C. circinalis , or queen regnant sago , is another common species that is native to India . It ’s commonly grow in contribution of Asia and Hawaii .
This is not to be confused withC. micronesica , another species that is find in Micronesia , Palau , and Guam . This specie gain ill fame when it was plant to be linked to Lytico - Bodig disease , which is exchangeable to ALS .
The seed ofC. micronesicawere a traditional nutrient source on Guam until the 1960s , but they contain a potentially unsafe neurotoxin and should not be consumed .
I repeat – do not eatany part of your cycad , they check a toxin called cycasin that can make liver loser in man and animals . They are ornamentals only !
Sago grows easy when trammel to a pot , and it is also a best-loved option forbonsai .
gardener located within or north ofUSDA Hardiness Zone 8amust grow these ancient wonderment in potty and bring them indoors to overwinter , but those of us in Zones 8a to 11b get to enjoy them in our landscapes yr - orotund .
When grown outdoors , C. revolutamay pass on a height of 10 to 12 feet , though the ones I see in Austin are closer to about five feet tall .
Here they are also typically allow to fall into a spreading , half - round shape , rather than the more good , palm tree tree - comparable form that results when the low-toned frond are clip off .
The pinnate leaf are typically about four to five fundament farsighted at maturity , reaching their groovy length when develop in fond shadiness . Shiny , new leaves sprout from the top of the jacket crown in a circular pattern , place above a woody tree trunk .
As refer above , sago palms are venomous to humans and pets , something to keep in mind if you have a dog who likes to experiment with young cuisines .
Our heel have never bother our sago , and the spiky leaf peak act as a impediment as well .
Each sago palm is either male or female . In former bounce , males may make a 12- to 24 - in - tall cone , whereas female produce a leafage construction resembling a basket that produces ovules .
The “ hoop ” open when the plant life is quick to be fertilized by pollen from the male , carry by wind or louse .
Keep in mind that sago palms may take over a decennium to reach maturity date and rosiness for the first meter . This will only fall out under idealistic produce conditions , every three years or so .
Propagation
C. revolutacan be propagated via division , as well as mature by ejaculate .
Division
For the first method , you may notice new bunch forming near the base of the plant . These pup can be cut off and planted elsewhere , or share with fellow gardeners .
Do n’t dillydally if you are go to attempt this process . Once the pups get too large , it ’s very unmanageable to successfully propagate them . Get them before they ’re a pes magniloquent .
In the spring or fall , reset the grime from around the base of each pup . get the picture the base of a pup and gently wiggle it to pop it off . If it has already farm too large , you may have to cut it off with a clean , sharp gardening knife .
Pinch or curve off any leave-taking that are sprout from the puppy . Place divide pups in the nuance for a hebdomad to bring around the wound , then prefer a pot that ’s a duet inches larger in diameter than the pup .
Fill the pot with a fast - debilitate blend of sand , perlite , and peat moss , or a container mixture that ’s worthy for medal . Dig a trap and put the puppy in the hole with the wound side down .
pee good , and allow the soil dry out out before tearing again . Keepin the shadeand away from burnished sunshine until it has rooted , and observe that this can take several month .
Seed
you could also spread these ancient looker from seed .
In a lowly pot , press the cum into the stain with the flat side up , keep about one - third of the seed above filth floor , and place the pot in a warm area .
establish one germ per sight , to give it room to grow .
pack the soil down around the source , water system well , and treat the pot with plastic to create a mini greenhouse that locks in warmth and wet .
Sago germ will pullulate in temperature of 70 to 100 ° F , so leave them in a strong , sunny fix or practice a estrus Master of Arts in Teaching .
Be patient – they can take up to three months to germinate . Keep the soil moist , and when the seed germinate , you’re able to bump off the charge plate wrap .
If you live in a hospitable domain , you could plant the palms in the ground in other bound or late crepuscule , after about three old age once a strong root system has had time to educate .
Otherwise , repot into in turn larger container as your cycad grows larger . Small specimens are perfect for bonsai !
To store your own seed – or if you have a neighbour with mature distaff sagos – waitress until fall to harvest them when the fruit is ripe .
wear down gloves , amass the orangish fruit . you may severalize the practicable seeds from the unfertilised 1 by placing them in a pail of water ; save the seeds that sink and dispose the rest .
Collected come can be salt away at room temperature in an airtight bagful or container . Before planting , permit them to soak in water system overnight to weaken their outer coating . Rinse well before potting up .
How to Grow
C. revolutacan put up full sunlight , and will do well in part shaded areas in particularly live and ironical climates , where it will likely bring forth long leave-taking . brilliant light is required for growing indoors .
foliage legal injury due to both utmost heat and sun or utmost cold can make terms to your cycads , leaving them susceptible to disease .
When in doubt , give them some shade and trade protection . And do n’t crowd your sago in with other plants , to promote good airflow .
They are n’t fussy about soil . Mine have thrive in intermediate , non - amended garden dirt for years . For healthy , vivacious sagos , well - draining sandlike soil is skillful .
outside sago arefairly drought - tolerant , and can go hebdomad without supplemental water andwork great for xeriscapingin lovesome , ironic clime .
In fact , you should allow your industrial plant to dry out between lacrimation , plant only in well - draining tidy sum , and avoid overwatering whenever possible .
Sago palms do n’t wish wet feet , and a well - intentioned watering - felicitous nurseryman can unwittingly cause their works to become susceptible to disease .
No auxiliary plant food is typically needed either . I ’ve plant that mine grow well in the native soil , with no motive for amending of any kind .
Once a calendar month during the develop season , an 18 - 8 - 18 water - soluble fertilizer may be apply to keep your sagos at their best , at a rate of one teaspoon per gallon of water , or accord to packet direction .
even applications of plant food will help oneself to encourageC. revolutato bloom , and produce new growth . Palm or citrus fertilizer may be used effectively on cycads as well .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
EvergreenC. revolutarequires niggling maintenance .
Here in Austin , my sago have suffered leaf burn mark during a twosome of wintertime when temperature pass into the low 20 for one or two nights , but otherwise , they winter in my growing zone dead well .
found flora grown outdoors may be covered with gunny for trade protection in rare cases of extreme winter weather .
all in frond can be removedwith sanitized pruner . Remember to wear gardening mitt when you are doing this , to avoid jabs from the sharp , pointed leaf backsheesh .
To ameliorate the looking at of the plant , you may also choose to carefully turn out away withered yield and blossom stalks at the end of the season , for seminal fluid preservation or disposal .
Keep in judgement that pruning is only commend for brown , dry fronds that have go . You may be tempt to withdraw yellow fronds , particularly if you feel they bankrupt the green , lush appearing . Here ’s what I have to say to that : do n’t !
Removal of these frond , specially when yellow percentage are found towards the bottom of the works , can actually cause stress . And this can top to stunted development , or make your plants susceptible to contagion .
Yellow fronds are still alert and absorbing nutrient , and removal may really cause the trouble to spread up the plant in instance where this is a sign of disease .
See the section below on make do pest and disease for additional suggestions and info .
Over the year , as your sago medal matures , you may choose to prune it into a tree course rather than a rounded Vannevar Bush with humiliated leaves that touch the ground .
This must be done bit by bit over the course of years , so as to obviate inordinate tenseness . take away the old frond from the base sparingly , cutting as tight to the trunk as possible .
Plant and Seed Selection
Ready to get growing ?
C. Revoluta , 10 Seeds
If you do n’t have a local retail source available , or a friendly neighbor who write some yield or pups for you , you still have option .
you’re able to findC. revolutaseedsavailable in parcel of 55 from Dichondra via Amazon .
King Sago Palm 6 - in Live Plant , 1 - Gallon Pot
If you ’re looking for a more mature lively specimen , six - in plants in gallon pots areavailable from American Plant Exchange via Amazon .
Sago Palm 8- to 12 - in Live Plant , 3 - Gallon Pot
And if you require an ever big specimen , you may discover live plant in three - gallon potsavailable from Fast Growing Trees .
Managing Pests and Disease
sago are fairly hardy , and they should do well in your garden with proper care if plant in a suitable location .
A few potential pests and problems that you may encounter includescale dirt ball , yellowing , jet mold , and various types of decomposition .
If you ’ve ever hadaphids take over your rosaceous George Bush , you ’re probably familiar with the honeydew melon that they pass , and the unsightly cast that can develop on your plants as a result . weighing machine bugs can induce similar issues when they attack your cycad .
They might be poisonous to humans and pets , but sure species of these insects eff them !
We cover this problem and more inour guide on sago palm pests and diseasesthat might affect them , with preventative measure that you’re able to take to protect your garden and propose techniques for ascendence , including theuse of beneficial insectsandintegrative cuss management techniques .
Best Uses
In addition to serve as a gorgeous ornamental that remains unripened throughout the twelvemonth both indoors and out , I ’ve found a decorative use for those aging portion of myC. revolutaas well .
I just cut out the “ burned , ” dry brownish fronds and pose them decoratively in a large plantation owner on my porch . The original plant is fine , and I have the addedbonus of a prissy dried musical arrangement .
The dry fronds are fair “ pokey ” though , so displays should be placed in a low - traffic area . And do not used pathologic portions of plants for decoration , as any fungal increase or insects present may disperse to other parts of the garden . Dispose of these fitly .
recall : No portions of the sago palm may be eaten . If you ’re look for an edible option for the backyardwith unusual yield , maybethe loquat is for you .
Quick Reference Growing Chart
Where Will You Plant Yours?
WhileC. revolutamakes a spectacular landscape plant for those of us in the southerly United States , gardener in other portion of the area can savour these prehistorical wonders indoors .
Sun or specter , good dirt or spoilt , this dramatic palm - corresponding plant loves raging mood and rewards with a remarkable display .
Are you looking formore drouth tolerant perennials ? Some of these guide might be right up your back street :
Photos © Ralph Barrera reprinted with license . Photos by Gretchen Heber © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product images via Serendipityseed , American Plant Exchange , and 9Greenbox . Uncredited photograph : Shutterstock . in the first place write on December 2 , 2017 . Last updated on June 29 , 2019 . With extra committal to writing and editing by Allison Sidhu .
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Gretchen Heber
