Cycas revoluta

king sago

Often incorrectly referred to as a sago “palm,” the king sago is in fact not a palm but a cycad. Of all cultivated cycads, this one is the most widely planted. It is, however, susceptible to cycad aulacaspis scale, so keep an eye out for that. As soon as you see some tiny white spots (probably the scale) on the undersides of the fronds, horticultural oils can be used to eliminate the pest. Give the plant a spot in well-drained soil in either sun or shade, north up to Zone 8.

The king sago is known as a “living fossil” because its origins can be traced back to 200 million years ago, in the early Mesozoic era – it’s a botanical dinosaur.

Like all cycads, the king sago is toxic to humans, and also to many pets. However, the seeds and pith of the trunk can be crushed and eaten after processing these parts to remove the toxins, which usually involves several rounds of boiling. Prolonged, regular consumption of this starch is not recommended, as it is known to lead to serious health problems, such as nervous system disorders and cancers.

Paradoxically, the leaves have been used to treat malignant tumors. There is often a very fine line between poison and medicine, and it is fascinating to me how most of the medicinal compounds derived from plants are their defense compounds that would ordinarily poison us if ingested in the wrong amounts.

Leaves from the king sago are frequently used in floral arrangements today.