Be patient – they can take up to three months to germinate. Arrange the sago palm seeds in the tray horizontally. I wear long sleeves, too, when I’m working with this plant, as it irritates my skin so. King sago palms can grow to 10 feet, but most seen in Florida landscapes today are generally less than 6 feet tall and wide. Native to the southernmost island of Japan, the leaves were traditionally used in funeral arrangements in the Land of the Rising Sun. Is there anything I can do to promote the growth? Mine have thrived in average, non-amended garden soil for years. Generally, landscapers no longer desire mature specimens as stock. My sago has this yellow thick spongy stuff at the top. Any plant can experience some transplant shock and it may take awhile… Read more ». Hi Kelly! This ‘palm’ is identified by its short trunk and fern-like new leaves. See our TOS for more details. Many years ago a young lady came by my place of business and wanted to trade three sago palms for some of the castor bean plant pods that were on several that were growing on the side of the building. It sounds like your sagos are doing very well. (Would love to see the turtles, too!). Also, do you know if that area drains well? 1 is growing beautiful fronds rapidly. Leaves are green, and Tony got new leaves last year, so it’s still alive. It cost a small fortune to move this thing and I really want it to make it. C. circinalis, or queen sago, is another common species that is native to India. Please see our article on sago palm pests and diseases for more info that may be helpful. I don’t want to damage the Sago– or the car! Recently it sprouted to very tall stems growing from the middle of the bulb. This includes the sago palm ( Cycas revoluta ), hardy in USDA zones 9 through 12. You can trim away the yellow foliage- it won’t turn green again. We planted 2 palms several years ago in South Carolina. We cover this in the article! With additional writing and editing by Allison Sidhu. It’s quite a display. And it’s definitely time for a happy dance when she’s able to beat the squirrels to the peaches, figs, or loquats. The pot should be kept in a shady place till the seeds germinate and let out small shoots. Eventually, the cone will begin to wither away, making it easier to remove, or you could let this happen naturally. Like many large seeds, be prepared to wait patiently, as sago palm seed germination may take several months. Female cones will produce seeds whether or not they are fertilized, but the seeds will not germinate unless they have been pollinated. Other Types of Palm Tree (With Pictures and Names) 2 of them are 50 years old, they have multiple trunks and are beautiful. JHSATX, thanks so much for your excellent tip! Though it’s rare for a plant to produce more than one at a time, it sounds like what you’re describing are male cones. Place the seeds into the soil, with their flat sides facing upwards. Sago grows slowly when confined to a pot, and it is also a favorite choice for bonsai. Male sago palm cones can be pruned away, but keep in mind that new growth often emerges directly beneath these, so you want to be careful. Even if it’s entirely yellow all over, there may still be hope for it. Thank you for you great info on Sagos. There’s a Sago relative (also a Cycad) called Dioone Edule. The potting mix needs to be very well-draining. Overwatering sagos can cause them to turn yellow. I don’t have any familiarity with Chinese palms. I hope it doesn’t perish after it’s… Read more », Ouch! Unfortunately, mounding the soil just around your individual plants isn’t usually recommended, and it will wash away with time. Hai, I have 2 sago plants that I planted somewhere in November. Gretchen, I have a healthy male sago palm that started growing a pup near its center. 🙂. This is a sign that it’s still alive. A: Gardeners remove the forming seed pods and residual frond portions as needed and at any time of the year. At this point, I would refrain from doing any more pruning until the plant has had some time to recover. Cycas circinalis is the only gymnosperm species found among native Sri Lankan flora. The root ball is taller than the hole is deep. Mature sago palm, both the male and female varieties, produce pups or suckers around the base of their trunks.These pups can be used to grow a new sago palm plant. Sagos don’t like wet feet. I know to let it get dry. Is it something I should be removing? Those fronds are spiky! Should I re-pot it ? We have 2 that we are starting out. From your photo, the smaller sago doesn’t look like it’s suffering from disease or insect problems, but you might want to inspect its foliage more closely just to make sure. Indoors or out? it was very healthy looking at the time. Sagos are pretty hardy, and they should do well in your garden with proper care if planted in a suitable location. So informative. Thank you. Rinse well before potting up. Thank you. When we moved from Chicago to LA 19 years ago, I was thrilled to be able to grow things like palm trees (but I know now that the sago is not really a Palm.) Trying to attach photo. They are side by side so not sure why so drastic difference in the two. Are all of the fronds turning yellow? It flourishes in damp lowlands in the Malay Peninsula, New Guinea, Indonesia, the Philippines, and adjacent islands. Place separated pups in the shade for a week to heal the wound, then choose a pot that’s a couple inches larger in diameter than the pup. UC Davis, for example, says, “… all parts of the plant are poisonous. I’ve learned the trick on trimming the leaves. Thanks for reading our article and sharing your question and photo! Fill a bucket with water and put the sago palm seeds in it to soak. Can you upload photos, Amy? This could be the case if it is surrounded by more concrete or asphalt, for… Read more ». Sounds kind of crazy… a concrete topper? Trees have an evergreen habit. See our article on Sago Palm pests and diseases to get an idea of what you want to look for. Not worth the risk in opinion. They are ornamentals only! The seeds of C. micronesica were a traditional food source on Guam until the 1960s, but they contain a potentially dangerous neurotoxin and should not be consumed. A cardboard palm can grow 5 feet tall and wide, though it takes many years. Hi – I’ve bought many (smaller) sagos in pots and they seem fine until watered – even after 2-3 mos – at which time they go yellow/brown and possibly die, no matter how much or little water I give them, though they’re in very bright light (and supplemented/fluors in winter – I’m in Canada). Rare Cycads Plant Seeds, Eenthu Plant, Queen sago Palm, Cycas circinalis- Rare and Exotic Plant Suitable for Garden or Pots (Pack of 10 Seeds) Make sure this fits by entering your model number. Always grab the leave about… Read more ». More adventurous and budget savvy growers, on the other The sago palm is extremely slow-growing, and it takes around 50 to 100 years for this plant to reach its maximum height of around seven meters. Do I need to remove the center growth from the male plant? While the leaves are green and lush you can grab them and pull downward against the way they are growing and most of the time they break off right next to the trunk. appearance. Sago palm propagation by seed is trickier. Trees can be either male or female. Or just keep it as it for now. Is this normal or will it have to be reset to upright? Speaking of which, I am going to try planting it in the front yard. Hi Gretchen! The new ones come out and grow larger then the older branches then die off. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Not sure why that is. Did you use potting soil, or soil from the garden? Here is more about what we do. My sago has thrown up 3 huge spikes in the center, almost 2 feet high. The seeds are what is poison and all you need to do is remove them. This is not to be confused with C. micronesica, another species that is found in Micronesia, Palau, and Guam. In order to produce viable seed, both mature male and I cut them off and the plant came back happy as can be. In Georgetown you’re in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b, so your sago should do well outdoors through the winter there. Once a month during the growing season, an 18-8-18 water-soluble fertilizer may be applied to keep your sagos at their best, at a rate of one teaspoon per gallon of water, or according to package directions. Each sago palm is either male or female. You can learn more about identifying and treating scale here. Sagos grow slowly, and they don’t need to be repotted often. A little bit of yellowing like you see there can be a sign of over/underwatering, or a nutrient deficiency, but this appears to be a healthy plant overall with a nice shape to it. Just wish there was a trick to have it grow faster. My husband says it is still alive because it is too hateful to die. Share your experience in the comments section below. C. revoluta can tolerate full sun, and will do well in partially shaded areas in particularly hot and dry climates, where it will likely produce longer leaves. Keep in mind that sago palms may take over a decade to reach maturity and bloom for the first time. My response to you is going to be very much the same as it is to Jennifer’s question above. Thank you for the informative article! I have two huge Sea Grape plants I started from seed. Do you fertilize your plant? Is that true? It’s been slowly growing for about 2 years now. We have one that we have grown from a very small plant. C. revoluta can be propagated via division, as well as growing by seed. seed germination may take several months. Wearing gloves, collect the orange fruit. I just… Read more ». If you’re looking for an edible option for the backyard with unusual fruit, maybe the loquat is for you. The “basket” opens when the plant is ready to be fertilized by pollen from the male, carried by wind or insects. However, their care and planting is simple. Sago palms are a favorite food of indigenous islanders in Indonesia, but the detox process is very lengthy and the plant is very toxic without it. shallow seed starting tray or pot. Did this happen to all of the leaves? I did not know they would live indoors. It died and my son bought me a small one at Lowes. Hello! If you’re looking for a more mature live specimen, six-inch plants in gallon pots are available from American Plant Exchange via Amazon. I also cut off a couple of large pups. I’ve planted a couple of pups as well. The production is primarily grown in central Florida from seed and seedlings from around the world. No new growth at all. All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans and pets, particularly the seeds. It is extremely slow-growing, sometimes putting out just one set of new leaves per yearor sometimes not that often. Hi Linda, Thanks so much for reading our article! It did so well all the rest of the year until this spring. Thanks for reading my article. With a little luck (and proper care! Palm or citrus fertilizer may be used effectively on cycads as well. The other doesn’t seem as interested. Cycas circinalis, also known as the queen sago, is a species of cycad known in the wild only from southern India. And do not used diseased portions of plants for decoration, as any fungal growth or insects present may spread to other parts of the garden. Seeds of the sago palm are usually bright orange to red in appearance. Just worried about it’s health as I will be having to dig it up and transplant it soon in an upcoming move.its purely an outdoor plant and we live way down south here… Read more », This look pretty healthy to me! Yes, you can trim the branches. Thanks, JC. Feel free to upload photos for identification. In a shaded location, my best guess would be that you’ve been giving your repotted sago a little too much love via watering too often, or it may be planted in a new pot that’s a bit too large, without adequate drainage, so it’s sitting in an abundance of overly moist soil. easy-to-grow cycads Related: Amazing Small or Dwarf Palm Trees. While “palm” is part of their common name, sago palms are not really palms at all. What should I do and what part sand and dirt do I mix. But I wouldn’t complain. I have friends who also planted theirs way before mine(also from the same mother plant as mine) but none come close to how tall mine are. Sago palms look like palm trees, but they are actually members of the very primitive Cycad family of plants. It is 3 years old. Yes it will remain outside in the ground. If the trunk is also black, this could be some kind of rot. likely to germinate. The single-seed fruit is covered in scales which turn from bright green to light brown when ripening. Regular applications of fertilizer will help to encourage C. revoluta to bloom, and produce new growth. We probably don’t get as cold as often as you do, but really, I do nothing. Can you tell me what might be the problem? Some sagos also may… Read more ». I am now in south Mississippi.. Otherwise, re-pot into successively larger containers as your cycad grows larger. You information about care of sagos was very helpful, and I wonder if you could give… Read more ». How large has yours grown, and is it beginning to outgrow its pot? planting. Widely known as fern palm or false sago, the queen palm tree (Cycas circinalis) seeds are loaded with lethal neurotoxins. What should I do? Sago seeds will germinate in temperatures of 70 to 100°F, so leave them in a warm, sunny location or use a heat mat. Queen sago is a medium sized suckering cycad, growing up to 5 meters tall. I hardly water plants in the enclosure (indoor). I didn’t know anything about them and I just left them sit for a good while… couple… Read more ». Wait to see which ones sink –… Read more ». If you already have an established garden,… Read more ». My plant is growing very well in direct sunlight in San Antonio. The queen sago palm (cycas circinalis) grows larger than the king, reaching possible heights of 12 to 15 feet, but this takes a really long time. Ha ha! If you haven’t done so yet, take a look at our article on Sago Palm pests and diseases to get an idea of what you want to look for.… Read more », Krisina, Thank you for the suggestions! Keep the soil moist, and when the seed germinates, you can remove the plastic wrap. growers will need a quality pair of gloves, as the seeds do contain toxins. Hi, My son recently gave me a medium sized sago.