Sago palms ( Cycas revoluta)are evergreen , slow - growing tropical plant with long arch light-green palm - same frond or arm . Sago medallion have a thick shaggy or hirsute looking trunk . Sago palms are not true palm trees , but rather a case of ornamental cycad . Easy - to - develop sago palms are also called king sago , cycad palm , sago cycad , or Japanese sago medallion .

Sago palms are cold - unfearing pop landscape plants for tropical gardens . King sago decoration develop best in full sun , well - draining dirt , and aredrought - tolerant .

Sago palms are slow growing plant and in idealistic growing weather condition they can reach heights of 12 ft . ( 3.5 grand ) after 50 geezerhood . It get 10 years for sago palm to reach adulthood and flower for the first prison term .

This article is a utter guide to growing sago palm in your garden or indoors . You ’ll also find out interesting facts about this cycad that many multitude befuddle for asmall laurel wreath tree .

Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta) is a Cycad Plant (Not a Real Palm Tree)

Sago palm ( Billie Jean King sago ) tree diagram is not a true palm but a cycad plant

Sago palms ( Cycas revoluta)are not true palm trees – these spiky - looking plants are actually cycad in the familyCycadaceae . Palm treesbelong to a all different plant category calledArecaceae .

Although sago cycads seem like decoration trees , there are some remainder between cycad palms and real decoration trees . Unlike palm Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , sago medal do n’t have seeds that are enclosed in fruits . Female sago palm grow seeds from a main bloom head that depend like a cone . Unlike real palms , when the leaves of sago palms emerge they are curled and look like fern leaves rather than thenar foliage .

A Few Facts About Sago Palms

King sago palms ( Cycas revoluta ) have a thick shaggy-coated trunk and blind drunk arch light-green calendered fronds . Sago palm are repeated plant with evergreen plant leaf .

Sometimes tycoon sago plants grow as multi - cauline ‘ decoration ’ with spiky crowns of leave-taking on each trunk .

Two stemmed sago palm

As cycad palm grow , sucker or pups grow around the torso . These tree offsets can grow as a new ‘ palm ’ next to the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Or you may remove the pups to engraft raw sago palms .

Sago palms also grow indoors to add a tropical touch to your Interior . The slow - grow houseplant can grow up to 6 foot . ( 1.8 molar concentration ) if it gets enough sun .

Sago palms are democratic bonsai plants . The sago palm bonsai look like a miniature version of the full - sizing laurel wreath tree . The small palm grow to between 6 ” and 12 ” ( 15 – 30 atomic number 96 ) high . Sago cycad bonsai palm tree need mass of sunshine to grow well .

25 class - old bonsai sago palm

Sago cycads are also on the lean of toxic plants . All division of sago palms are venomous , specially the seeds . King sago palms are so toxic that ingesting the plant can be black for pets . exhaust role of sago ribbon can make severe gastrointestinal complaints in human beings .

Sago Palm Seeds

Close - up of the germ of a sago cycad palm . The seeds are vicious and very harmful to pets

Sago palms reproduce through cum that grow in cone in the middle of the leafage hoi polloi . you’re able to plant sago palm sow flat down on their side in soil , with one - third of the seed exposed . Remember that the sago thenar semen are poisonous and should be prevent away from children or PET .

Male Sago Vs. Female Sago Palm

Male sago palm ( left ) and distaff sago palm ( right )

Sago ribbon are dioecious which means that manly and female sago palms are required for reproduction . ripe manly sago plants have an upright conoid - case structure that grows in the middle of the leaf rosette . The distaff sago has a sizeable rounded cone that contain many orange seeds . The distaff sago ribbon need to be pollinate for the sago seeds to reproduce .

Sago decoration cone are sometimes call flowers . However , because sago plants are cycad , not palm , they do n’t produce flowers . These flower - comparable sago plant con ‘ bloom ’ every three or four years — but only when the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is at least 15 years former .

More deterrent example of female sago palm

King Sago Vs. Queen Sago Palm

Queen sago palm ( Cycas circinalis ) is either virile or distaff – like the male monarch sago ( Cycas revoluta )

The tycoon sago palm ( Cycas revoluta ) is different from the queen sago palm ( Cycas circinalis ) . The king sago is native to Japan and is sometimes scream the Japanese sago . The queen sago is native to southern India and Sri Lanka but is also a democratic landscape works in Hawaii .

Both coinage of these cycads are maturate for their ornamental time value in tropical garden landscape .

How to Care for Sago Palms

Easy - care sago palms originate effortlessly if you ’ve got the correct growing conditions . For sago palms to thrive , grow them in full sun , sandy well - drain stain , and only water system when the ground is dry . Sago palms do n’t want fertilizer , but you may provide light fertilization monthly during the rise season .

Here is the complete guide to growing sago palms .

Sago Palm Light Requirements

When grow Billie Jean Moffitt King sago palm indoors , place it in a sunny location away from direct sunshine

Sago palms grow in full sun to partial tincture . Ideally , the mogul sago cycad needs four to six hour of sunlight daily to keep its foliage plush and healthy . In live , arid climates , the best location for sago palms is in partial wraith protect from the hot noonday sun .

Growing outdoors in sunny locations , ensure there is at least 3 ft . distance ( 1 thousand ) between the palm - like industrial plant . This ensure that there ’s enough airflow around the plant . Also , all the ribbon ’s leaf will get enough sun for healthy growth .

Protect sago medallion from direct sunlight when growing in pots indoors . The sago palm pot should be in a cheery location in your dwelling . You should avoid placing cycad at a to the south - facing window as direct sun all daytime can burn the leaves and cause them to be sensationalistic .

The Best Soil for Growing Sago Palms

King sago palms grow best in loamy , slightly acidulous , well - debilitate soil . The ideal case of soil mix for cycad palms is sandlike soil that has some constitutional matter play into it . For goodish sago palm increment , the most critical grime factor is excellent drain .

The forged thing for sago medallion is for their roots to stand in wet , soggy soil . After a exhaustive lachrymation , the spare water should drain away quickly . This gives roots plenty of hydration without becoming too moist .

Ensure you have theappropriate potting soil mixif you farm pot sago palm indoors or outside . A combination of one part perlite , one part harsh backbone , and two component peat moss is an ideal potting mix . The peat moss adds nutrients and retains some moisture , while sand andperlite improve drain .

How to Water a Sago Palm

Sago palm tree do n’t involve much H2O so only water them when the top land is juiceless

Sago cycads do n’t necessitate much water . Sago palms aredrought - tolerant outdoor plantsand subsist longsighted periods without weewee . If your climate commence at least 9 ” ( 22 curium ) of yearly rainfall , you might never need to water your cycad . In spicy , dry weather , water the sago flora thoroughly every two calendar week .

Sago palms thrive on the veritable rain in tropical and semi - tropic climates . As long as piddle drains cursorily from the sago palms ’ roots , the cycad will grow well . Many gardeners never require to irrigate sago palm tree growing in the backyard .

To water potted sago palm , watch theguide for tearing houseplants . Only weewee sago palm in tidy sum when the top 3 ” ( 7.6 cm ) of the potting commixture is juiceless . Thoroughly water the soil until water drains out the drainage holes in the pot ’s floor . expect until the land mix dries again before tearing .

Do n’t piddle sago palms during wintertime .

Temperature and Humidity Requirements for Sago Palms

The ideal temperature range for sago palm is between 70 ° farad and 90 ° F ( 21 ° degree Celsius – 32 ° C ) . The minimal temperature forCycas revolutais 20 ° F ( -6 ° C ) . Although sago palms can survive inadequate period of frost , the exuberant green foliage may abide some damage .

Sago palms fly high in USDA zone 9 – 12 .

If you live in colder climates , you’re able to grow sago medal outdoors in pots during the summer . When the nighttime temperature drops to 50 ° F ( 10 ° C ) , it ’s best to bring the potted cycad indoors . Sometimes , the large feathery fronds can get damage in temperature below 30 ° F ( -1 ° C ) .

Sago decoration need above average humidity to thrive . Southern statessuch as Floridahave the ideal climate for growing sago palm Tree .

If you have a potted king sago or bonsai sago indoors , mist the leaves regularly to increase humidness . Also , keep the cycad plant off from cold drafts to prevent leaf damage .

Sago Palm Fertilizer Needs

King sago palms have minimal fertilizing pauperism

Sago palms have few , if any , fertilizing need . Many gardeners say that their sago palm grow ok without additional impregnation . grow in robust , well - drained soil ensures that sago palms get enough nutrient for healthy growth .

If you determine to boost the ground ’s nutrient profile , you may employ a liquid fertilizer with an NPK rating of 18 - 8 - 18 . flux the fertilizer fit in to the manufacturing business ’s instructions and enforce once a month during the rise season . Citrus or palm fertilizers are also worthy for cycad .

Sago palms — just like all cycad and palm tree — need Mg . You should pick out a secure fertilizer with added magnesium . Alternatively , you may alsouse Epsom salt to add magnesium . You could sprinkle a tablespoon of Epsom salt around the trunk twice a year before water the primer coat .

Sago Palm Growth Rate

King sago palms are slow growers . Sago palms take ten years or longer to reach matureness and get to their average height of 5 ft . ( 1.5 m ) . After about 50 yr , sago palms grow up to 10 or 12 ft . ( 3 – 3.6 m ) . Sago medallion live up to 100 years .

How to Propagate Sago Palms

Sago pups or sago palm seeds are the two methods used to propagate the plant . Both male and female sago palm get pups that you could separate from the base and replant . Sago medal generation by seeded player is trickier . Both propagation methods take a retentive time for raw plants to turn .

Here is how to propagate sago palms using pup or offsets :

Propagating sago palms from seeds is a challenging procedure . First , you necessitate to have a manful and distaff sago palm growing in your yard . Then you postulate to ensure that seeds have been pollinated . If sago seed are pollinated , they can take up to six months before they begin to show any theme .

How to Prune (Trim) Sago Palm

Only remove sago palm foliage that are utter or diseased as overly trimming cycad flora causes it stress

Only prune or dress sago palm leaves that are dead , morbid , or damage . Overly pruning a sago palm can weaken the industrial plant ’s ontogeny . you’re able to also get rid of the sago decoration flush ( cone cell ) after ‘ blooming ’ to elevate outgrowth .

Here is how to cut back or garnish a sago palm :

Sago Palm Toxicity

All percentage of sago palm are toxic to humans and especially for pets , with the seeds incorporate the most poisonous nub

All parts of sago laurel wreath contain toxin and should never be ingested . Sago palms have a toxic substance call cycasin . This poison is in higher concentrations in the sago palm seeds . However , firedog or kat that eat any part of the sago palm can endure from liver damage .

The journalFrontiers in Veterinary Sciencereported on the dangers of sago laurel wreath to dog and cats . Scientists say that toxins are in the plant ’s leave , stems , antecedent , and source . Sago palm seed contain the highest concentration of cycasin . Ingesting one or two seeds can be fateful to animals .

Sago palm intoxication can lead to severe consequences .

Symptoms of pets consuming part of the sago plant let in the following :

King sago palm seeds , leaves , and stems are also toxic to world . Medicalreportssay that absorb cycad seeds can result in serious GI problems . The most coarse issue assort with sago palm poisoning was grievous vomiting .

Pests that Can Affect Sago Palm Growth

Sago palms are hardy plants that are not susceptible to gadfly and disease . If growing in a suitable location , you will seldom have to treat a sago laurel wreath for gadfly problem . Spider mitesandscale insectsare the only bug that could become problematical .

Please read this article to learnhow to allot with many plant pest naturally .

Sago Palm with Yellow Fronds

Yellowing leaves of sago ribbon are usually triggered by nutrient insufficiency or the soil being to dry / damp

A nutrient lack usually make yellow fronds on a sago laurel wreath . A want of K , atomic number 12 , or nitrogen can result in the lush , spiky palm leave lose their colour . Other causes of jaundiced fronds on sago palms can be overly dry or too dampish stain .

Here are some handy tips to have sex which nutrient deficiency is causing yellow sago medal frond :

Use a melted fertilizer for palm trees to settle issues of yellowing sago palm leaves . New development should then start to seem unripened . However , it would be best if you obviate rationalize yellow leave and only chop them off when they become dark-brown .

Related article :