When I looked into my front yard to try to find some inspiration for my column, I spied several Sago Palms.
Sagos are not palms at all, but cycads. Cycads usually grow from a trunk that does not branch out. They produce nuts but not flowers or fruit. They are native to Japan and southern China.
Sagos can be grown as houseplants or yard plants, but they grow much larger as yard plants.. They are slow growing, up to 2 feet to 3 feet in several years. They might grow up to 10 feet in fifty years! They are toxic to humans and pets, so be careful while handling them.
Sagos are perennial shrubs that grow in full or partial sun and in sandy, moist, but well drained soil. Mist them regularly. A slow release fertilizer is also helpful. Prune them only when leaves turn completely brown.
Keep yellowing leaves intact Propagation is by division in early spring or late fall. There will usually be baby plants at the base of the plant. Keep offsets on a tray in a shady place for several days so cuts can dry out.
Cycads, by the way, are one of the oldest families of plants still alive today. According to my resource, they date back at least 300 million years. They predate Tyrannosaurus by more than 200 million years! Wow!
I do enjoy my Sagos, so give them a try if you do not have one already.
Written by Martha Knies
