Sago palm

Sago palm: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Rosette of leaves on a short, thick trunk; in a pot 0.5–1 m tall and up to 1.2 m wide.

Leaves

Feather-shaped, 50–100 cm long, with stiff, narrow, glossy leaflets that end in a sharp point and have rolled-under edges.

Trunk

Thick and covered with old leaf bases; it grows only a few cm a year.

Cones

There are separate male and female plants. Only old plants produce a cone or a ring of felted, seed-bearing leaves with orange-red seeds.

Roots

Thick and fleshy, plus coral-like roots that house cyanobacteria.

Plants: April–May · Pruning: April

Why grow it?

• An architectural plant that looks exotic and lives for decades.
• Little work: it wants plenty of light, little water and little feeding.
• Evergreen and attractive all year, indoors or on the patio in summer.
• It grows so slowly that it fits the same pot and the same spot for years.
• Every new ring of leaves that unfurls is a small spectacle.

Sago palm: where does it grow best?

• Very bright, with some sun: by a south-, east- or west-facing window. With too little light the new leaves grow long and floppy.
• In summer it can go outside in sun or partial shade; let it get used to a shady spot for a week first.
• Free-draining, sandy compost: palm or cactus compost mixed with some loam or coarse sand, neutral.
• Dry to slightly moist: wet feet are its worst enemy.
• A fixed spot: do not move or turn it while new leaves are emerging.

Light

Sunny or bright, out of direct sun

Potting soil

Cactus compost or multi-purpose compost

Acidity

Neutral

Watering

Sparingly or moderately

Size

1 m tall, 1.2 m wide

Temperature

Minimum -5 °C

Goes well with

• Agave: Just as architectural and equally happy with sun and dry soil on a summer patio.
• Olive tree: A Mediterranean feel in pots, with the same need for light and little water.
• Succulents: Low echeverias or sedums in a bowl at its feet add contrast.
• Ornamental grasses: Soft, swaying stems in a pot beside the stiff leaves.

Sago palm: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May.

1. Repot in April–May, and only every three to four years or when the roots push out of the pot.
2. Choose a sturdy, heavy pot just a few cm larger, with a drainage hole and a layer of gravel at the bottom.
3. Use a free-draining compost: palm or cactus compost with some coarse sand or fine gravel.
4. Set the trunk at the same depth as before: it must not sink deeper into the compost.
5. Wear gloves and long sleeves against the sharp leaf tips and the toxic plant material, and only water after a week.

Care

Water

Water when the top few centimetres are dry and let the excess drain away. Do not pour water into the centre of the rosette.

Feeding

From May to August, a half-strength palm or foliage plant feed once a month.

Light

The brighter the better; in summer it likes to be outdoors. After winter, accustom it gradually to full sun, or the leaves will scorch.

New leaves

When a new ring of leaves emerges, the leaves are soft. Do not move the plant and water a little more until they have hardened.

Dust

Wipe the leaves now and then with a damp cloth, wearing gloves.

Tip: In spring, give it a week in the shade before it goes into the sun: that way the leaves will not scorch.

Sago palm: when to prune it?

Pruning months: April.

When: Hardly needed. In April, remove only old leaves that are completely yellow or brown.

How:

• Cut old leaves off close to the trunk with sharp secateurs.
• Do not remove green or half-yellow leaves: the plant still draws nutrients from them.
• Wear thick gloves and clear up all the cuttings straight away.

Caution: Cut leaves and seeds are toxic too: dispose of them at once, out of reach of children and animals.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Offsets

Older plants sometimes form small offsets at the base. Cut them off in spring, let the wound dry for a few days and set them in moist sand. Rooting takes months.

Seed

Only from a pollinated female plant. Press fresh seed halfway into moist sand at 25–30 °C; germination can take months. The seed is highly toxic.

Sago palm: how does it get through the winter?

• Older plants briefly tolerate light frost down to about −5 °C, but cold and wet together are more dangerous than dry frost.
• In Belgium, bring it indoors in October, before the first frost.
• Ideal is a bright, cool place at 5–15 °C, such as a conservatory or an unheated room; a living room also works, as bright as possible.
• In winter, water very sparingly, only when the compost is almost completely dry, and do not feed.

Diseases and pests

• Scale insects: Brown or white scales on the leaves, often underneath. Rub them off with a soft brush or a cloth dipped in soapy water.
• Mealybug: White, woolly tufts at the leaf bases. Wipe them off with a cotton bud dipped in methylated spirit.
• Yellow leaves: One or two old leaves a year is normal. If many leaves turn yellow, it is too wet or too dark.
• Trunk rot: A soft, rotting trunk caused by too much water, especially in winter. Always let the compost dry out between waterings.
• Brown patches: Scorched leaves after a sudden move into full sun. Acclimatise it gradually in spring.

Through the year

• January: Cool and bright. Very little water.
• March: A little more water as the days lengthen.
• April: Remove old brown leaves. Repot if needed.
• May: Repot. After mid-May, move outdoors, first into shade. Feed monthly.
• June: Outdoors in sun or partial shade. Do not move while new leaves emerge.
• July: Water when the compost is dry. Feed.
• August: Last feed. Watch for scale insects.
• October: Bring indoors before frost, to a bright, cool place.
• November: Rest. Little water.
• December: Bright and cool. No feeding.

Edible and useful

Not edible. Sago palm (Cycas) and zamia are not palms but cycads, and highly poisonous in all their parts, especially the seeds: they contain cycasin, which damages the liver. Dogs, which like to chew the seeds, trunk or leaves, are most at risk: just a few seeds can cause liver failure, which can be fatal even with treatment. The plant is dangerous to cats and children too. The first signs (vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy) sometimes appear only after a few hours: call your vet at once if your dog or cat has chewed it, even if it shows no symptoms yet. Keep the pot out of reach of pets and children, clear away cut leaves and seeds straight away, and wear gloves when repotting and pruning. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Did you know?

• Cycads belong to one of the oldest groups of seed plants still alive: their relatives were already growing in the age of the dinosaurs.
• Its coral-like roots house cyanobacteria that fix nitrogen from the air.
• Revoluta means ‘rolled back’: the edges of the leaflets curl under.