Cycas Revoluta
Cycas revoluta
Cycas revoluta, the Sago Palm or King Sago, is one of the oldest and most recognisable ornamental plants in the world. A gymnosperm cycad rather than a true palm, it has survived virtually unchanged for over 200 million years and produces a magnificent symmetrical crown of glossy, dark green feather-like fronds on a rugged, shaggy trunk. Male and female plants bear large, ornamental golden cones rather than flowers. It symbolizes longevity, unchanging resilience, and the timeless dignity of nature.
Cycadaceae (Cycad family)
Cones emerge in late spring to summer (April to June in the Northern Hemisphere; October to December in the Southern Hemisphere). Cones appear only once every few years on mature plants. Seeds ripen from September to October in the Northern Hemisphere.
Symbolism & Meanings
Key Meanings
Perfect For
Color Meanings
Similar flowers: xanthorrhoea preissiis and golden lotus bananas also share similar meanings.
Cultural Significance
Cycas revoluta is one of the most culturally resonant plants in East Asian tradition. In Japan, it is known as Sotetsu and has been cultivated as a garden plant for centuries. It is considered an omen of good fortune and longevity, and old, multi-stemmed specimens are greatly prized in Japanese gardens as living emblems of endurance through time. The bonsai cultivation of Cycas revoluta is a revered art form in Japan. In Chinese culture, cycads are associated with strength, stability, and the endurance of tradition. In the language of flowers and horticulture broadly, the plant's extraordinary slow growth and geological age, having survived mass extinctions and continental drift largely unchanged since the Triassic period over 200 million years ago, make it a universal symbol of patient, unchanging strength and the dignity of deep time. The genus name Cycas is thought to derive from a Greek transcription of the word for palm, and the species name revoluta is Latin for "curled back," describing the elegantly recurved leaflets. The Sago Palm received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, confirming its exceptional ornamental status.Shop Our Floral Collection
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Physical Characteristics
Natural Habitat
Growing Guide
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade; larger leaves develop in shadier conditions, while plants in full sun develop a more compact, robust form with better cone production; tolerates indoor bright indirect light
Water
Moderate. Water deeply but infrequently during the growing season; allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering in winter to support dormancy. The plant is susceptible to root rot caused by overwatering and poorly drained soil, which is one of the most common causes of decline in cultivation. Never allow water to pool around the crown or roots.
Soil
Well-drained, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Loamy, Tolerates a wide pH range; absolutely intolerant of waterlogging or compacted, poorly drained soil
Expert Growing Tips
Plant in well-drained soil in a permanent full-sun to part-shade position; the plant resents disturbance once established
Water deeply and infrequently; allow the top few centimetres of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot, which is the primary cause of decline
Fertilise with a balanced slow-release palm and cycad fertiliser in spring and summer; do not fertilise in autumn and winter
Remove yellow or brown fronds by cutting cleanly close to the trunk; never remove all green fronds at once as this stresses the plant severely
New fronds emerge as a single coordinated flush from the crown; do not disturb or damage the new fronds during this vulnerable phase as they are easily broken
Small pups (offsets) appear around the base of mature plants; these can be carefully removed and potted to propagate new plants, though they are slow to establish
WARNING: All parts of the plant, especially the seeds, are extremely toxic to humans, dogs, cats, and horses; keep away from children and pets at all times
Uses & Benefits
Ornamental Uses
- Classic specimen plant for tropical, subtropical, and Mediterranean landscape gardens
- Elegant container plant for patios, sunrooms, courtyards, and entrances
- Indoor architectural houseplant for bright, sunny rooms
- Bonsai specimen (traditional in Japan)
- Street and civic planting in frost-free subtropical climates
- Cut and dried fronds widely used in ceremonial and festive floral arrangements worldwide
Traditional Uses
- In Japan, the pith from the trunk and roots was historically processed as an emergency famine food called cycad sago, after extensive washing to remove cycasin toxins; this practice is rare today
- Leaves (fronds) are widely used in ceremonial "palm" arrangements in religious and cultural festivals, including Palm Sunday observances in some regions
- Research into cycasin compounds has contributed to the understanding of neurological diseases including ALS and Parkinson's, as exposure to cycad-based foods has been studied in connection with the high incidence of these diseases in populations of Guam and Japan who historically consumed cycad products
Disclaimer: Information provided is for educational purposes only. Consult healthcare professionals before using any plant medicinally.
Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cycas Revoluta
Is Cycas revoluta a true palm?
No, Cycas revoluta is not a true palm. It is a cycad, a gymnosperm from one of the most ancient plant families on Earth, having existed largely unchanged for over 200 million years. True palms (Arecaceae) are flowering plants (angiosperms) that evolved much more recently. The "palm" in the name is a popular misnomer based on the plant's similar leaf arrangement; cycads are actually more closely related to conifers and Ginkgo than to palms.
Does Cycas revoluta flower?
No, Cycas revoluta does not produce true flowers. As a gymnosperm, it reproduces through cones rather than flowers. Male plants produce a large, erect golden-yellow cone shaped like a pineapple. Female plants produce a loose rosette of modified seed-bearing leaves that form a rounded woolly head, which develops large orange-red seeds when successfully pollinated. These cones are often referred to colloquially as "flowers" but are botanically distinct.
What does Cycas revoluta symbolize?
Cycas revoluta symbolizes longevity, unchanging resilience, and timeless dignity. In Japanese culture, it is associated with good fortune, patient strength, and the beauty of great age. Its extraordinary survival largely unchanged for over 200 million years makes it a universal symbol of endurance through deep geological time, and it is used in Japanese gardens as a living emblem of this principle.
How fast does Cycas revoluta grow?
Cycas revoluta is one of the slowest-growing ornamental plants in cultivation. It may gain only 2.5 to 5 cm of trunk height per year, and can take 50 or more years to reach its full mature height of 2 to 3 m. Its annual growth flush typically consists of a single coordinated ring of new fronds that emerge and expand over a period of weeks before hardening. This extreme slow growth is part of what makes old, large specimens so highly prized in Japanese garden culture.
Is Cycas revoluta poisonous to dogs and cats?
Yes, Cycas revoluta is extremely toxic to dogs, cats, horses, and humans. All parts of the plant contain the toxin cycasin, with the seeds containing the highest concentrations. The ASPCA estimates a fatality rate of 50-75% in dogs that ingest any part of the plant without immediate veterinary treatment. Symptoms of poisoning appear within 12 hours and include vomiting, liver failure, and neurological damage. The plant must be kept well out of reach of all pets and children at all times.
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