Emperor Sago Cycas taitungensis

Emperor sago is a member of an ancient family known as Cycadaceae that dates back more than 200 million years ago. It is a tropical to a subtropical broadleaf evergreen that is related to conifers. It is a rare plant and was placed on the endangered species list in 2010. The genus name, Cycas, is derived from the Greek word, "kykas." This word is thought to be a transcription error for the word, "koikas," meaning Palm tree. Although Emperor Sago has a palm-like appearance, it does not flower and is cone-bearing, like a conifer.

Emperor sago is closely related to the sago palm, but it does not have the rolled-back leaflet margins that are found on the Sago Palm. Emperor Sago is slightly more cold-hardy and can have a leaf spread of 10 feet wide. Although slow-growing and long-living, Emperor Sago is the fastest growing in the cycad family under optimal conditions. Both of these plants are dioecious which means there must be a female and male plant to reproduce. They reproduce by using exposed seeds (gymnosperms), much like pines and fir trees.

Emperor sago prefers full sun to partial shade. The leaves tend to bleach out when in full sun; therefore, protection from the afternoon sun is recommended. They are intolerant to alkaline soils. They require good drainage, but once they are established they may tolerate dry spells. The plant is cold tolerant and can survive temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Maintenance of emperor sago is minimal and includes removing suckers or offshoots and removing spent fronds. They are propagated by seeds or offshoots. By using the offshoots, you will know the sex of the plant immediately. 

The trunk of emperor sago is sometimes branched and can have a width of 18 inches. The stem color is reddish-brown. The crown is rounded and the leaves may spread out up to 10 feet. They can be 50 or more dark green leaves that are palm-like and measure 40 to 70 inches long and 8 to 12 inches wide. Each leaf is divided into 130-200 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are leathery, and the margins are flat. On the male emperor sago, pineapple-shaped cones are produced. On the female, the cones are shaped like a flat ring and form a thickly packed seedhead. The seeds are orange to red in color. Pollination occurs from April to June with the assistance of insects or the wind. The seeds mature from September to October.

Emperor sago may be cultivated in warm coastal areas. It may also be used as a houseplant, interiorscape, or bonsai. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Scale insects, especially cycad aulacaspis scale, can cause serious damage.