One thing you can do about all those Sago palm pups ...

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Although there was some excellent advice given on how to separate Sago pups from the parents we never got around to doing it. All these years I've just kept cutting back the fronds lest I have a grove of palms in a very limited space.

Then when Alfie was a little pup he started chewing on the tender new fronds that would spring up in a day's time. All parts of Sagos are lethal to dogs so I knew I had to do something.

What I did was to cut back all the green fronds, cover them with black plastic and then with mulch. It's been over a year. They tried, but no fronds have permanently made it out from under the plastic. I think they've finally given up and the parent is fine.

Here's what it looks like there now:

The link above will give you some tips on separating the pups, but if your plants are in a confined space like mine where it's hard to maneuver, and/or you just don't want to do the work this might be something to try.

Does anyone else have some tips on limiting the spread of, or the propagating of Sago palms pups?

Featured Answer

Mrs. S

8 years ago

Well, from personal experience, and for future reference of anyone who needs to know, Sago Palms, which are not actually palms, can also have poisonous-to-dogs walnut-sized seeds that drop. (Is it Sago females or males that drop the seeds? I don't know). But our dog chewed on some at a friend's house, and almost died from it. She was hospitalized with what they estimated was a slim chance of recovery. She did recover, after a harrowing and expensive treatment, but I never fail to mention to dog owners the danger of these plants. I wouldn't plant one where a dog or dogs have access to them. My 2 cents.

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Comments (7)

bossyvossy
8 years ago
I wear DH leather gloves and hand remove the ones growing along the trunk. I shovel prune the ones coming from the base. I don’t know why but I don’t get many anymore, thank goodness. I tried giving them away on CL but no response. Then I see postings selling for $200 and up...I don’t get it, ha
roselee z8b S.W. Texas thanked bossyvossy
PKponder TX Z7B
8 years ago
I think that Sago Palms are gorgeous, but I know from my neighbor's failures that we are just not warm enough in winter for them. I love seeing them thrive though.
roselee z8b S.W. Texas thanked PKponder TX Z7B
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roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Bossy, it's good to know sagos will finally give up.

Pam, they are beautiful plants, but even here some of the leaves will burn in a hard freeze and have to be removed.
bossyvossy
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
A little off topic but I had to run an errand and the biz was located in what used to be a private home previous to being a biz. The plant had at least 50 sago palms.

I couldn’t really capture what it looks like to grow 50+ sagos, ha
roselee z8b S.W. Texas thanked bossyvossy
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
8 years ago
Wow -- some body was certainly impressed/obsessed with growing sagos! Thanks for the photos!
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Mrs. S, yes, it's good to remind people of this. I planted mine before I knew about the their toxicity to dogs. Now that mine have matured I'm always careful to pick the seeds from my one female plant and bag them before they fall. The young shoots from the 'pups' that form around the base are also toxic. I'm glad your dog recovered.

Sago 'palms' are not true palms, but are part of an ancient family of plants called cycads.