Sagos’ Saga

Sago palms are found in landscaping all over Coronado. They are not really a palm, but in the cycad family (Cycas revoluta) and date back to prehistoric times.

Native to southern Japan, they are wellsuited to drought-tolerant Southern California gardens. The plants make an architectural statement with the leaves symmetrically spread out in a wide circle, but they are most interesting when they are in their reproductive cycle.

Propagation occurs with either seeds or side shoots. Sagos are dioecious meaning the plants have male and female reproductive organs in separate plants with the males bearing pollen cones (strobilus) and the females bearing megasporophylls, or more simply put, a clump of modified leaves. Male pollen cones look like skinny, yellow pinecones, producing pollen that settles in the female’s megasporophylls, fertilizing the seeds wrapped in the fuzzy, soft leaves.

Female sagos are especially beautiful with their artistically styled and fuzzy leaves. One year I had an epiphany on a historic home tour after looking at Arts and Crafts-era wallpaper. It seemed obvious that artists of that era were inspired by the shape of these leaves because they were prevalent in a lot of the era’s patterns and designs. Sago palms were an unusual and novel plant around the turn of the 20th century.

The artistic megasporophylls of a female sago. Inset: A pollen cone of a male sago.

The early stage of a sago frond unfurling.

Very slow growers, Sagos typically aren’t mature enough to bloom and reproduce until they are 15 to 20 years old, and some never bloom at all. Until your sago blooms, you won't know if you have a male or a female plant. Since it takes two to tango, it’s a bit tricky if you are buying immature plants with the intent to propagate them.

Sagos are a popular landscaping plant, but when they are still small, they can be striking indoor plants as well. Indoors, they are happiest with strong, indirect lighting and water needs are low.

Very much a part of our Southern California landscape, sagos bring an interesting mix of prehistoric, Arts and Crafts flair to Coronado gardens.

Side note: All parts of the sago palm, especially the seeds, are poisonous. Dogs find sago seeds particularly palatable, but they are extremely toxic if eaten. If your yard contains a sago palm accessible to your dog, please consider moving the plant to an inaccessible part of your property. Also, be mindful on your walks. There might be seeds laying under sagos along your route that your dog might want to snack on.