How do I care for a sago palm?

Sago palms prefer to be situated in well-drained soil, and like other cycad plants, they do not respond well to overwatering. In fact, too much water can quickly lead to root rot and eventual death. Therefore, it’s best to allow the plant to dry out some between waterings.

What’s the difference between a cycad and a palm?

The key difference between cycads and palms is that the cycads are nonflowering plants (gymnosperms) while the palms are flowering plants (angiosperms). Hence, the cycads reproduce through cone-like structures while the palms reproduce by flowers and fruits.

How toxic is sago palm?

Cycad Sago Palm is extremely poisonous to both humans and animals if ingested. Clinical symptoms of ingestion will develop within 12 hours and may include vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, seizures, liver failure, or hepatotoxicity characterized by icterus (yellow coloration), cirrhosis, and ascites (fluid in abdomen).

How do you identify a cycad?

Stems have spirals of relatively smooth diamond-shaped leaf scars. Cycads produce cones. If they have the above characters and a cone, the plant is a cycad.

What happens if you touch a sago palm?

Although all parts of sago palms are off limits, the seeds are the biggest risk factor, so stay far away from them. Cycasin can irritate your digestive system. Substantial levels of it can lead to liver failure. If the thorn of a sago palm tree punctures your skin, get medical help, just to be on the safe side.

What should I do if my dog eats a sago palm?

If a dog has eaten any part of the sago palm and is showing signs of poisoning, which could first include vomiting, diarrhea (with or without blood), and lethargy, you need to head to the veterinary hospital immediately. Liver failure, organ damage, and neurological signs like wobbliness and seizures can follow.

What kind of plant is the Cycas palm?

Cycas are native to Asia, Pacific Islands, Australia and Africa (one species). Popular Cycas species include Cycas revoluta, Cycas taitungensis (Emperor Sago), Cycas panzhihuaensis (Blue Mountain Sago) and Cycas debaoensis (Multipinnate Cycas). The name Cycas comes from Koikas, Greek for palm, and Cycas are the most palm-like cycads.

How are Cycas palm and Cycas revoluta related?

Cycas and cycas plant species are closely related to Cycas revoluta (Sago Palm or King Sago), the most popular cycad plant. Cycas are native to Asia, Pacific Islands, Australia and Africa (one species).

How tall does a cycad palm tree grow?

The most popular cycad is the sago palm. They are slow growing and have a long life. They usually grow to 3 to 5 feet (91 cm-1-1/2 m.) in height, although they can sometimes reach 10 feet (3 m.)in height.

Where does the family Cycadaceae come from?

Origins. The family Cycadaceae is thought to be an early offshoot from other cycads, with fossils from Eocene deposits (38–54 mya) in Japan, China, and North America, indicating this family originated in Laurasia. Cycas is the only genus in the family and contains 99 species, the most of any cycad genus.