The Sago Palm Tree, also known as Cycas revoluta, is originated from Japan but is naturally growing in the regions of Africa, China, Polynesia, Madagascar and Micronesia. It can usually be found in cliffs, mountains and forests.
If you go back in time 350 million years, you will see Sago Palm dominating the landscape in a lot of areas existing side-by-side with dinosaurs. That is why it is often called “living fossils”.
The Sago palm is certainly one of the most popular cycads in cultivation. This ornamental plant can be grown outdoors or indoors.
Whether you use this palm as a center peace or plant it together with other cycads it will be a great addition to any landscape. This ornamental is also a great container plant, often placed in the ceramic pods near the entrance or on the patio.
This slow growing palm can get up to 10ft tall but it might take it a while. Fern-like fronds emerge from a short brown-gray trunk and are about 5ft long. Long leaflets curl back at the bottom of the leaf. This palm can live for hundreds of years.
Only after 20-25 years plant start developing reproductive system. Male and female reproductive systems are born on different plants. Male plant develops yellow cone and female plant develops flowers that look like small scalelike yellow leaves. Bright orange seeds form inside. Female plants also have offsets growing at the base or along the sides of the palm.
Sago Palm is loved by gardeners for its durability and cold hardiness. It can easily survive drought and adapt to different soil types. This is one of the most cod hardest palm trees that can survive cold down to 5F.
It will tolerate cold temperatures that cold without a damage for a short period when mature enough. If the cold lasts for more than few hours, it might cause leaf damage or even kill the tree. Applying high quality fertilizer few times a year might speed up the growth rate.
Container grown sago plants usually grow at a slower rate. This palm is very long lived. Some specimens are known to live longer than 220 years.
This palm can be attacked by scale or mealy bugs. To avoid this problem, inspect the palm regularly and if you see any insects, apply the appropriate treatment.
Scale is very difficult to remove, especially Asian scale, because it burrows below the ground and feeds on palm’s roots. Spray the palm as soon as you notice the problem with chemicals. You will need to remove dead bugs between treatments by washing them away with water.
Frizzle top is another common problem with Sago palms that can be a result of over-watering or Manganese deficiency. This problem can be easily solved by applying fertilizer that contains manganese, potassium and magnesium.
Sago Palm Tree is one of the most recognizable palm trees because of its delicious coconuts and elegant appearance. Learn how to grow a Sago Palm Tree indoors and outdoors successfully.