Sago cycad
Cycas revoluta · Cycadaceae
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⚠️ Chiens, chats et enfants : graines contiennent glycoside toxique. Ingestion provoque troubles digestifs graves et neurologiques.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around sago cycad and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, composed of dark green leaflets arranged in a rosette
- Flowering
- April to June, reproductive cones (flowers barely visible)
- Mature size
- Approximately 1.5 m in height, compact and spreading habit
- Growth
- Very slow, a few leaves per year
- Hardiness
- Not very hardy, mild climate or container growing (USDA 9-11)
- Origin
- Japan and China, living ancestral species
- Soil
- Well-drained, enriched with organic matter, neutral to slightly acidic pH
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Provide partial shade and well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Water regularly during the first year, then moderately—cycads hate waterlogging.
The common mistake
Placing the cycad in a pot without drainage holes or with a saucer that holds water: it rots slowly but inevitably.
The pro's trick
Space out watering heavily in winter (even indoors in heated spaces): a cycad that's slightly dry thrives better than one that's wet all year round.
Care
Watering
Water moderately during the growing period (spring-summer), once or twice weekly depending on heat. Reduce considerably in winter. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings: Cycas fears excess moisture and root rot. Use non-calcareous water if possible.
Light exposure
Place the Cycas in bright, filtered light, ideally in partial shade. Avoid intense direct sun which scorches the foliage. Indoors, an east-west or northeast-facing window works well. Outdoors in mild climates, partial shade is preferable.
Soil and repotting
Use well-drained substrate: mix of potting soil, coarse sand and pine bark. Repotting is rare due to slow growth; do it every 3-4 years in spring. Ensure the pot has drainage holes.
Fertilizer
Feed lightly from March to September with balanced fertilizer or indoor plant-specific formula, once monthly. Avoid overfeeding which tires the plant. No winter feeding is necessary.
Pruning and maintenance
Remove only dead, yellowed or damaged leaves at the base of the rosette. Never prune the central trunk: Cycas rarely branches. Occasional leaf cleaning (damp cloth) maintains its beauty.
Diseases and pests
Fear stagnant moisture which causes root rot. Watch for scale insects and spider mites indoors. Outdoors in warm climates, decline can occur in overly wet soil. Improve ventilation and adjust watering as needed.
Did you know?
Cycas revoluta is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world: it has existed for over 150 million years, surviving the extinction of dinosaurs. In Japan, it symbolizes longevity and resilience, and some horticultural specimens are over two centuries old. Its name 'revoluta' refers to the distinctive inward curling of its leaflets within the rosette.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring, once all risk of frost has gone. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from April to June.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.