Cycas revoluta - Japanese Sago Palm

Cycas revoluta, also known as Japanese Sago Palm or simply Sago Palm, is a prehistoric plant that has survived from ancient geological times. Part fern, part palm tree, this strange semi-hardy shrub is nonetheless a particularly ornamental species, highly sought after in landscaping. It slowly forms a short, thick, and rough trunk, bearing a compact crown of long, slightly arching leaves, divided into dark greenish-blue fine leaflets. While it can only be grown in the ground in a narrow coastal strip of the Mediterranean or Atlantic coast, it can thrive in a large pot that is stored indoors during the winter in colder regions.

Cycas revoluta is also known by various names depending on the region, including Fern Palm, Mini Palm, or Sago Cycad. It belongs to a very ancient botanical family, the Cycadaceae, which exhibit obvious archaic characteristics. Becoming rare in its natural environment, this plant is native to the Nansei and Ryukyu Islands in Japan, as well as the Chinese coast of Fujian. It can be found on steep cliffs and rocky meadows in these regions, as well as near Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, in the form of centuries-old specimens that are revered and respected. From a botanical perspective, Cycas revoluta exhibits intermediate characteristics between ferns and palm trees. It is a dioecious plant, with male and female individuals being distinct from each other.

In cultivation, this plant will rarely exceed 1.5 m (5 ft) in all directions. It consists first of a short, stout, and conical false trunk (stipe) with a rough texture and a colour ranging from ochre to brown, with leaf scars. There is usually only one stipe, but there can sometimes be multiple trunks. The evergreen foliage, arranged in a concentric rosette, develops at the top of the stipe. The pinnate leaves, measuring 70 cm (27.6 in) to 1 m (3.3 ft) in length and 15 cm to 20 cm (5.9 in to 7.9 in) in width at maturity, are divided into numerous linear and pointed leaflets. They are borne on a short petiole bordered with spines. The young leaves, lighter in colour, appear as crosiers that unfurl like those of ferns.

Flowering occurs in summer, after many years of being grown in the ground, and is very rare in potted plants. The inflorescences appear in the centre of the crown. Male cycads develop large, upright, light-yellow cones, while female cycads bear smaller inflorescences, beige in colour and velvety in appearance. After pollination of the female cycads, they develop large, rounded, bright red seeds.

Cycas revoluta is the most widely cultivated species worldwide, due to its relative hardiness, which does not exceed -6° C to 8° C (21° F to 18° F) in a very sheltered location. In the ground, it can be placed in isolation, not far from a swimming pool for example, along with a small palm tree, Tetrapanax Rex, banana trees, Agave, or yuccas, creating an exotic-inspired setting. However, this plant will reveal its full potential when placed in isolation or in a large rock garden. It can be a bit challenging to combine with other plants, but it can still be planted in groups of 3 specimens and surrounded by a tapestry of cerastium, a sowing of purslanes, or a bed of Felicia. A contemporary garden can plant it above a sea of white pebbles. Planted in a carefully chosen large container, it will make a magnificent specimen in a conservatory, on a terrace or balcony.