Cycas Revoluta

Sago Palm / King Sago Palm

Botanical Name: Cycas revoluta
Family: Cycadaceae
Origin: Southern Japan (Kyushu & Ryukyu Islands)
Plant Type: Evergreen cycad (fern)

Overview

Cycas revoluta (Sago Palm) is a sculptural, low-maintenance statement for South Australian gardens. It forms a symmetrical crown of stiff, glossy, deep-green fronds that flush in warm months, creating instant resort style. Thrives in sunny, well-drained, coastal and Mediterranean sites; perfect for pots, courtyards and feature planting.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 1-2 m H x 1-2 m W (older specimens can slowly exceed this)
• Growth Rate: 5-15 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Glossy, dark-green, feathered fronds in a tidy rosette; new flushes emerge lime-green then deepen
• Flowers: Non-flowering cycad — produces male or female cones on mature plants
  
• Seasonal Interest: Year-round evergreen structure; dramatic new frond flushes in late spring–summer
• Wildlife Value: Provides shelter/structure; cones may interest insects/birds (not a nectar plant)
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant (once established), heat-tolerant, wind-tolerant
  coastal-tolerant (second line); light–moderate frost (protect crowns from hard frost)
• Planting Density: Feature planting 1–1.5 m centres; in pots, use 40–50 cm+ diameter containers
• Pet Friendly: No — extremely toxic to pets (all parts, seeds especially); do not plant where pets chew

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (inland, give light afternoon shade for pristine fronds)
• Soil: Free-draining sandy or loamy soils; raised beds/mounds for heavier clay; avoid waterlogging
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 14–21 days in summer; sparingly in winter (let soil dry between waterings)
• Maintenance: Mulch lightly with gravel; remove old fronds at the base; feed in early spring with a slow-release palm/cycad fertiliser (includes Mn/Mg)
• Lifespan: 50-100+ years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean SA gardens, including sheltered coastal areas
• Soil pH: Acid to Neutral (tolerates slightly alkaline if drainage is sharp)

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Resort-style feature near entries and outdoor living spaces
• Container hero for courtyards and poolsides; pair with aloes, agaves and grasses
• Mass in gravel gardens for bold, low-water texture and year-round form

Why You Will Love It

An ultra-tough architectural classic: glossy fronds, a perfectly tidy silhouette, outstanding drought and heat tolerance, and decades of good looks — with almost no fuss once established.