The Sago palm is a gymnosperm from the Cycadaceae family. It’s native to Japan and the Ryukyu Islands.
Although widely used as an ornamental plant, the Sago palm’s main use is in the production of sago, a staple of traditional cooking in New Guinea, Brunei, Malaysia, and more.
Its botanical name, Cycas revoluta stems from the Latin epithet which means curled-back. This is how you can describe the leaves of the Sago Palm.
The plant is closely related to the Metroxylon sagu, or true sago palm, and Cassava sago. All three species are used for sago extraction and as ornamental plants. [1]
Cycas revolute is also known as king sago, sago cycad, or Japanese sago palm, as well as Sotetsu in Japanese.
Growing The Sago Plant
One of the main appeals of this plant is its symmetrical crown. The trunk can grow up to 8” in diameter or even wider with the right conditions.
Although the trunk of the Sago palm extends a lot underground when young, it can grow to over 20 feet in height. Unfortunately, it may require up to 100 years to reach that height.
The leaves are between 20 to 59” long but they don’t take as long as the trunk to develop. They also have a semi-gloss dark green color during the plant’s reproductive stage. Once matured, the crown can end up nearly 3.3 feet in diameter.
The Sago palm is not known for its impressive blooming. It only creates one cob-shaped flower and it does so every three to four years. It’s debatable whether or not the flower makes your plant arrangement easier to the eyes.
Watering should be infrequent. The root system doesn’t respond well to too much water. That’s why it’s important to have good drainage and to avoid pouring water directly on the offshoots or bulbs that grow on the stem.
As long as the soil is well-aerated, you shouldn’t have any problems. However, Sago palms need plenty of fertilizer when they are young. If you’re growing a new plant from an offshoot, use a potting mixture made specifically for cycads.
The Sago palm doesn’t need any grooming unless you want to remove the flower. Just keep in mind that it only produces them after reaching maturity in 10 to 15 years, which makes it a rare occurrence.
How To Propagate Sago Palms
Sago palms are propagated by planting offshoots which grow at the base of an adult plant. However, this may not always be an easy task. Some offshoots need to be sawn off so you’ll need a sharp tool. Try to get a diameter of 4” or 5” inches.
Clean the offshoot of leaves and roots and wash it thoroughly. Leave it under shade for at least a week before planting. Using a pot of around 2” inches larger in diameter than the offshoot is recommended to avoid compacted soil problems.
The offshoot should be planted with the bottom half under the potting soil. Water it as needed only, as extra water doesn’t help the growing process. After about six or 12 months, the new Sago palm can be moved into a longer container to make room for its growing root system.
Sagos also grow from seeds but is a long process – years!
Caring For Sago Plants
Despite its natural cycad hardiness, a Sago palm still needs a certain amount of care. First of all, it needs a lot of light in order to thrive. It can survive low-light conditions too but it’s not recommended.
A limited amount of moisture is also required. Like any cycad plants, the soil must be well-drained so both the pot and the potting process are equally important. Overwatering may easily lead to root death.
Furthermore, Sago palms need regular fertilizing. Once a month should be enough, but no less than that. This doesn’t just stimulate blooming but also ensures proper nutrition and prevents the leaves from turning yellow.
Sago Pests, Diseases, Or Problems
Pests don’t seem to be a major concern for Sago palms except for Asian scale. Chemical sprays and systemics are often needed to control an Asian scale infestation.
However, nutritional deficiencies can occur as well as problems with the root system.
Ordinarily, most plants have warning signs that signal specific problems. But the Sago palm has only one warning sign.
Yellow leaves can be a sign of disease, nutritional deficiency, or improper planting. This makes it difficult to determine what the problem is.
Sago Tips, Tricks, And Suggestions
When preparing an offshoot for propagation, it’s important to let the wounded area heal. Once it looks like it has developed a callus at the cutting point, it’s ready to be potted.
Although the plant is used for sago extraction, it is quite poisonous for both animals and humans. This may make it a bit tricky to find the right spot for the plant as it appears to have a pleasant taste for house pets.
All parts of the plant are toxic, so a trip to the doctor is mandatory after ingesting any amount of it and it can take up to 12 hours for the symptoms to show.
Best Ways To Use Sago’s In Design – Indoors Or Outdoors
The semi-gloss feathery foliage is very impressive. Due to the natural symmetrical growth pattern and the resemblance to palm foliage, the Sago palm works really well both outside and inside the house.
Due to their origin and their look, Sago palms can add an Oriental ornamental accent that sets a garden apart. They can also be used as a throwback to primitive Earth if you’re going for the wilder exotic type of landscaping. [2]
Buying Tips
Big garden centers often sell Sago palms as dwarf palm trees. Landscapers should also have access to Sago palms, and they’re often better equipped to deliver larger plants.
Before making a purchase, you should look carefully at the foliage and comb it for damaged leaves. You want to see the same dark green consistency to make sure the plant isn’t diseased.
What Are The Most Popular Sago Palm Species And Varieties?
When it comes to planting Sago Palms, Cycas revoluta is the most popular variety. That’s because it is mostly cultivated as an ornamental plant and not for its sago extraction potential.
Summary
The Sago palm, not to be confused with the true sago palm or Metroxylon sagu, is a popular entry-level household plant. It has the potential to be an amazing centerpiece both inside and outside and doesn’t require a lot of care, as long as it’s properly potted to begin with.
- [1] http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr316
- [2] https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8039.pdf