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Cycas revoluta (Palm, Sago)
Older sago with a female bloom.

Palm, Sago

Cycas revoluta

This landscape palm is a lovely conversation piece for any landscape, as it can fire up debates depending on your beliefs -- scientist estimate this plant was growing on this planet over 150 million years ago! Sago Palm is almost a misnomer, as it belongs to the plant family Cycadaceae, and is a palm only by aesthetics alone.

It forms a prominent trunk that grows very slow with age. Once or possibly twice a year, new bright green leaves emerge from the central trunk, then slowly unfurling like a fern to reveal leaves up to five feet long. Although soft to the touch and fragile, the leaves eventually harden up with a stiff midrib, sporting plenty of needle like leaves with a sharp point, turning dark green.  Leaves are noticeably larger when grown in full shade.

Sago Palm is dioecious, with easily identified blooms for the male and female. It also reproduces from small suckers borne at the base of the plant; the ideal time to remove them would be in winter with a shovel or hatchet.

Sago palm appreciates well drained soils, and a slow release fertilizer on a regular basis . Be sure to cover in freezing temperatures as leaves will die if exposed too long, and it would take quite a while to replenish all the leaves. 

Specimen
Accent Plant
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Height

6-8 Feet

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Spread

5-8 Feet


USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Available Sizes:

Item Description
PLM-SAG-01 #001 PALM, SAGO View Current Crop Photo
PLM-SAG-05 #005 PALM, SAGO View Current Crop Photo
PLM-SAG-15 #015 PALM, SAGO View Current Crop Photo
PLM-SAG-30 #030 PALM, SAGO View Current Crop Photo

Characteristics & Attributes

Deer Tolerance
High
Exposure
Full Sun to Full Shade
Habit
Evergreen
Water Needs
Medium