Cycads are considered to be “living fossils,” that is, they are primitive plants that were a dominant form of plant life during the dinosaur era. They are palm like in appearance, although totally unrelated to palms. The sago palm is one of the most popular types of cyads grown.

Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta): Sago palms are evergreen plants with stiff, palm-like fronds that radiate outward from a slow-growing usually nonbranched trunk. They are very slow-growing and long-lived. A compact plant can reach a height of 10 feet, although 3 to 5 feet is more common. Cycads make an excellent accent in sun and shade.

In severe winters the fronds may burn, but new ones follow in the spring. Sago palm is not suitable for use in western South Carolina.