Common name:
Sago palm, King Sago, Sago cycad, Japanese sago palm
Origin: southern Japan
Foliage: shiny, dark green leaves, they grow into a feather-like rosette
Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
Growth rate: very slow
Height: 3 meter / 9 feet
Hardiness: -5°C / 23°F
Culture: Fresh seeds germinate very well, some even after a few days! Important here is enough heat / humidity. The difficulty is the prevention of molding. As the seeds have to be laid on the ground, the germination process can be well followed, which makes it even more interesting. For a detailed sowing instructions for the Cycas, please see Cycas and Dioon sowing instructions. The Cycas is a very slow grower. The flushing (production of a new crown), however, is a wonderful spectacle to follow. It can be kept in the full sun or partial shade. The hardiness is largely determined by the humidity. The drier you will keep it, the more cold he can tolerate. Planted in the garden it will need a very good protection to prevent him from freezing. As a container plant you can take it insides during winter. Cycas are dioecious. Therefore, a male and female subject is required to obtain fertilized seeds.
Use: The pith contains edible starch, and is used for making sago. Before use, the starch must be carefully washed to leach out toxins contained in the pith. Extracting edible starch from the sago cycad requires special care due to the poisonous nature of Cycads.
Germination, step by step