Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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cycas plant

The cycas plant is a striking and resilient feature for New Zealand gardens, loved for its bold, architectural foliage and prehistoric charm. With its palm-like shape and lush, feathered leaves, the cycas plant adds an exotic touch to both outdoor landscapes and elegant indoor spaces. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a beginner looking for a low-maintenance, sculptural statement, the cycas plant offers a fascinating blend of history, beauty, and hardiness. Read on to discover everything you need to know about growing, caring for, and using cycas plants in your garden.

Cycas revoluta

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 $134.93

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

Stromanthe Triostar (Stromanthe Plant)

Stromanthe Triostar is a popular indoor plant owing to its lush and colourful foliage. It features elegant, dark green, pink, and cream-coloured leaves and grows compactly to about 50 cm tall and 40 cm wide. Stromanthe Triostar makes for a wonderful office and house plant and is great for bringing colour and joy to a space.

Buy Stromanthe Triostar (Stromanthe Plant)

From $32.33

Suited to regions: Subtropical

Plant type: Indoor Plants

Height: 50 cm

Spread: 40 cm

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Modern, Tropical

What is a Cycas Plant?

The cycas plant is part of the Cycadaceae family—a group of ancient plants dating back over 200 million years. Often mistaken for palms, cycads are gymnosperms with a stout trunk and beautifully layered, pinnate leaves arranged in a circular crown. One of the most popular species is Cycas revoluta, also known as the sago palm, which is prized for its symmetrical form and adaptability to pots or garden beds.

Popular Types of Cycas Plants

Among the varieties of cycas plants, Cycas revoluta stands out for its versatility, slow-growing habit, and reliable performance in gardens across New Zealand. For those looking for a lush, tropical look, Cycas thouarsii offers broader leaves and a faster growth rate, making it an excellent choice for a dramatic landscape centerpiece. Because cycads are hardy and drought-tolerant, they pair beautifully with other sun-loving natives and exotics like Kniphofia Dwarf Scarlet (Hot Poker Plant).

Growing Cycas Plants

Cycas plants thrive in well-drained soil and prefer a sunny to partly shaded position. They are well suited to coastal regions and can cope with dry periods once established. For container gardening, they require a quality potting mix and an occasional feed during the growing season. Watering should be moderate, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. If you enjoy indoor plants, the smaller cycas varieties work beautifully alongside statement foliage options like Stromanthe Triostar (Stromanthe Plant) and easy-care beauties such as Chlorophytum comosum variegatum (Spider Plant).

Landscape and Design Ideas

The cycas plant’s elegant fronds offer year-round interest, making them perfect for tropical, formal, or Mediterranean garden designs. Use as feature plants in large pots by your entranceway, or group several for dramatic foundation planting. Cycas also makes a fantastic specimen for rockeries, poolside borders, and xeriscaping, thriving in the same conditions as succulents and other drought-tolerant plants.

Caring for Your Cycas Plant

Caring for a cycas plant is straightforward. Remove old or yellowing leaves to keep the plant looking tidy. Protect young fronds from frost and water well during extended dry spells. Cycas plants are rarely troubled by pests or diseases, but ensure proper drainage to prevent root rot.

Discover Cycas and More

Ready to enjoy a living fossil in your garden? Explore our selection of Cycas revoluta and Cycas thouarsii for sale, and create a lush, low-maintenance landscape with these timeless beauties. Pair your cycas plant with companions like Kniphofia Dwarf Scarlet (Hot Poker Plant), Stromanthe Triostar (Stromanthe Plant), or Chlorophytum comosum variegatum (Spider Plant) for year-round colour and interest. Add the unique character and resilience of cycads to your plant collection today.

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.