Family: Cycadaceae
Common Name: Sago Cycad

This important genus of cycads is widely distributed throughout tropical Australia, Africa and Asia, as well as the islands off the coast of India and in the western Pacific. Common names given to these cycads often include the word 'palm', but they are in no way related to palms. Of the 20 or so species, only C. revoluta is widely cultivated, with C. media sometimes available too. In climates which are prone to frost, they are grown as pot plants in an intermediate greenhouse or conservatory, and they also make good house plants.

Species

C. media, a native of Australia, is generally a single-stemmed plant, 1.5-3 m (5-10 ft) tall. The stem is topped by a circle of long-stalked leaves, each about 1.5 m (5 ft) long, and the thin, flat leaflets are up to 20 cm (8 in) long and about 1 cm (½ in) wide.

C. revoluta, Japanese sago palm, from southern Japan and China, is a popular ornamental and is also widely used as a bonsai subject in Japan where it has been cultivated for centuries. Although known to reach 8 m (26 ft) tall, cultivated plants are seldom taller than 2.5 m (8 ft). This fairly cold-hardy species sometimes has a branched stem, either at ground level or higher up, and densely crowded, narrow leaflets, giving the straight, upward-pointing, shiny, brownish green leaves a solid appearance.

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in pots of well-drained, soil-based potting compost, with added chipped bark, in bright light but with shade from sun, and a moderately humid atmosphere. Outside, plants will thrive in well-drained but moisture-retentive soil in a position providing full sun. Propagate from offsets in spring, or from seed sown in a heated propagating case.

Climate

Zone 10. Warmest parts of zone 9 for C. revoluta