How to Grow and Care for Cycas

The sago palm is said to be a source of sago, a starch and carbohydrate source eaten in certain countries. Great care must be taken, however, because sago palm is poisonous that could cause vomiting, diarrhea and headache, etc. These palm-like plants are more often kept for their decorative value. But make sure that your pet is away from this plant, which could be fatal to pets if consumed.

Cycas pectinata is a slow-growing cycad native to subtropical and tropical regions, characterized by a stout trunk and a crown of large, pinnate leaves that radiate like a feather plume. Its tough, glossy leaves suggest resilience to varying weather patterns, while the periodic production of large, distinctive cones indicates its ancient gymnosperm lineage. Adapted to nutrient-poor soils, cycas pectinata stands as a remarkable relic of prehistoric times.

The cycad is a small tree, growing to about 10 m (33 ft) in height, with a trunk diameter of up to 40 cm (16 in). The bark is grey and distinctively fissured into rectangular, or diamond-shaped, segments. The leaves grow from the crown – bright green, glossy, palm-like fronds, 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) long, with 150–200 leaflets on each frond. The spiny petiole is 35–60 cm (14–24 in) long. The male plant's strobilus, or cone, is oblong-ellipsoidal, 30–60 cm (12–24 in) long, orange in colour and foetid in odour. The female's megasporophylls are about 30 cm long, fleshy, brown and densely hairy, with the fertile area about 35 mm (1.4 in) wide. The seeds are 45 mm long and 30 mm wide, ripening from green to an orange- or reddish-brown colour.

Cycas cairnsiana is a slow-growing cycad primarily found in Australia's tropical regions, featuring a stout trunk topped with a crown of stiff, glossy, dark green fronds. This prehistoric plant thrives in well-drained soils, with its deep roots and tough leaves adapting to survive dry spells. Cones emerge in the center of the leaf crown, with separate male and female plants producing pollen and seeds, respectively. Its striking foliage offers a glimpse into ancient landscapes, with cycas cairnsiana often a centerpiece in garden design due to its unique, palm-like appearance.

Although the queen sago (Cycas circinalis) looks entirely innocent, every part of it is toxic, so use extreme caution when handling it! Chemicals found in the sap have been noted as carcinogenic. To create seeds, they must be pollinated by insects. It is located in many parts of the world as an ornamental; however, it is only native to a very small area of India.