cycas palm

Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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The Cycas palm is a striking, ancient plant treasured by New Zealand gardeners for its dramatic foliage and remarkable resilience. While commonly called a palm, the Cycas actually belongs to the cycad family—a group of prehistoric plants revered for their sculptural leaves and slow-growing nature. With their bold, feather-like fronds and stout trunk, Cycas palms make elegant focal points in subtropical gardens, modern landscapes, or container displays. Easy to care for and tolerant of coastal conditions, these cycads are an excellent choice for both beginner and experienced plant enthusiasts.

Chinese Windmill Palms planted as a cluster.

Trachycarpus fortunei (Chinese Windmill Palm)

Trachycarpus fortunei, commonly known as the Windmill Palm, is a hardy, evergreen palm ideal for New Zealand gardens. It features a tall, slender trunk topped with large, fan-shaped green leaves that create a tropical look. This palm grows slowly to about 8 m tall and 2 m wide. It thrives in full sun to partial shade, tolerates frost and wind well, and is perfect for subtropical themes or feature planting.

Buy Trachycarpus fortunei (Chinese Windmill Palm)

From $49.61

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Palms

Height: 12.00 m

Spread: 5.00 m

Flowering time: Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods

Garden uses: Living areas, Parks, Pool areas, Screening, Specimen

Garden styles: Architectural, Coastal, Mediterranean, Modern, Tropical

Cycas revoluta

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Cycas revoluta, commonly known as the Sago Palm, King Sago, Sago Cycad, or Japanese Sago Palm, is an impressive and popular, small Palm tree. It grows with a fibrous trunk which is topped with a whorl of feathery, dark green fronds held with a gentle arch as it grows to 3 m tall and the same wide. Cycas revoluta makes an excellent specimen and is commonly added to tropical plantings, maintained in a container, planted around a pool or other outdoor living areas, or added to a mixed planting.

Buy Cycas revoluta

From $638.89

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Palms

Height: 3.00 m

Spread: 3.00 m

Garden uses: Containers, Living areas, Parks, Pool areas, Screening, Specimen

Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, Tropical

Trachycarpus fortunei (Chinese Windmill Palm)

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You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Beaucarnea, Cordyline, Cycas, Dypsis, Howea, Rhopalostylis Syagrus and Trachycarpus, or related Categories - Palm Tree Fertiliser, Indoor Plants, Palms, Cycad Palm Trees and Evergreen Trees.

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What Is a Cycas Palm?

The Cycas palm refers to members of the Cycadaceae family, particularly the popular varieties often seen in New Zealand gardens. These plants are sometimes referred to as "sago palms" due to their palm-like appearance, but they're not true palms. Their lush, evergreen leaves radiate from a central trunk, creating a symmetrical, architectural effect that's truly unique. The most widely grown species, Cycas revoluta, is renowned for its compact shape and decorative value, making it a favourite for feature planting.

Popular Cycas Palm Varieties

Cycas revoluta: Also known as the Sago Palm, this species is highly sought after for its glossy, deep green fronds and slow-growing habit. It's well-suited to pots, garden beds, and even as a houseplant in bright spaces.
Cycas thouarsii: The Madagascar Sago is a stunning, larger-growing Cycas species, ideal for subtropical gardens looking for an exotic touch. It features broad, arching leaves and a robust trunk.

If you're considering other palm-like garden options, varieties like Rhopalostylis cheesmanii (the Chatham Island Nikau), Syagrus romanzoffiana (Queen Palm), and Chamaerops humilis (Dwarf Fan Palm) all offer complementary foliage textures and forms.

Growing Cycas Palm in New Zealand

Cycas palms thrive in well-drained soil and full sun to part shade, coping well with a range of environments including coastal gardens. Their drought-tolerance and minimal maintenance requirements make them perfect for low-care landscaping. Water regularly during the establishment phase, then reduce as your plant matures. While Cycas palms are generally pest-resistant, occasional checks for scale insects and tidy-up of old fronds keep them looking their best.

For container cultivation, use a free-draining potting mix and avoid letting the crown sit in wet soil. Feed sparingly during the growing season with a slow-release fertiliser. Over time, your Cycas palm can develop into a handsome specimen that’s easy to move or reposition for seasonal effect.

Using Cycas Palms in the Garden

The architectural beauty of the Cycas palm makes it a top choice for feature planting, borders, or as an accent in subtropical schemes. They work equally well flanking pathways or anchoring courtyard planting. Mass plantings of Cycas revoluta can provide sculptural interest year-round while Cycas thouarsii is ideal for larger gardens seeking a tropical focal point. Pair your Cycas palm with other hardy palms such as Rhopalostylis cheesmanii or with the lush, fan-shaped leaves of Chamaerops humilis (Dwarf Fan Palm) for garden drama.

Explore our collection to find the ideal Cycas palm for your space and enjoy a piece of living history in your New Zealand garden.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.