Cycas revoluta     
Sago palm   
Cycadaceae Family     

Cycas revoluta

Form: (not a true palm) palm-like fronds on a stalk, trunked with age; resembles fern when young
Seasonality: evergreen
Size: to 10ft, frond spread 3-6ft; extremely slow growth
Leaves: long-lived; 1-2ft long; frond-like with sharp pointed spikes, finely cut; in spiral at top of trunk
Flowers: dioecious; not a flowering plant; reproductive clusters around frond bases
Fruit: cone with seeds on female plants only
Stems/Trunks: tall trunk on old specimens, 8-10in diameter; more fern-like when small; produces offsets at base
Range/Origin: Japan
Hardiness: to single digits; some frond damage at 15-20°F

leaf detail

LANDSCAPE VALUE:

• tropical effect
• specimen plant
• great in containers

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Exposure: full sun or part shade; color bleaches when in full sun; best with some protection from afternoon heat
• Water: regular, although drought tolerant once established; once per week in hot season, decrease frequency during cold season
• Soil: prepared, not tolerant of alkaline soils, good drainage
• Propagation: offsets or seeds
• Maintenance: minimal; removal of offsets if desired, removal of spent fronds

grouping of Cycas revoluta

NOTES:

very ancient, gymnosperm type plant
growth is very slow, specimens are expensive

Because of its growth habit, fertilize only when terminal bud begins to swell, indicating the start of the annual growth cycle.

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This page was first created September 21, 2001 and last modified January 13, 2006.

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