Sago Palm Help (Zone 6a Colorado)

[COpalms]

I have a Sago palm here in zone 6a, Colorado, that's suffered some damage. I've done some research on protection methods and whether it will survive, and have concluded it probably will. I still, however, would love any advice/help you can give me. I have a sago palm (cycas revoluta), and it is surviving, but unfortunately, I was a bit faulty in my protection methods, and it's suffered some cold damage. The tips of the fronds are burnt to a CRISP, and the lower you go, the more bendy you get until they turn green and healthy at the base. The crown and trunk are still alive and healthy, which is all that matters and should, as I've heard at least, push out new fronds this spring.  I had it covered with a Frost King heat cable, a blanket-brand frost cloth, and a cardboard box. This, however, is where I went wrong; I covered the sago with a cardboard box, and it snowed about 4 inches. The top collapsed and let snow touch the frost cloth, which indirectly contacted the tops of the fronds, causing tip burn. I checked on it afterwards, and it had some slight damage, but I then checked on it the next day (it got down to 6-8f (-14 to -13c) that night), and the tips of the fronds, as I stated, had burnt and crisped. As I previously said, the sago should push out a new set of fronds next spring, but until then, I've devised a new idea for protection and will NOT be covering it with a cardboard box again. Until spring, I will hope and pray that she survives, but any help/advice would be great as well as important to me. Have a great day! God bless!

[Harry’s Palms]

Wow , that is cold for a Sago to endure . I know if they go into shock , they can sulk for years! I moved one here in a warm temperate 10a climate and it stopped growing or doing anything for over 5 years . I was going to dig it out when someone told me to leave it alone . It came out of hibernation and now sends out fronds every year . It looked horrible for over 5 years . Harry

[KPoff]

That’s cold I thought I was pushing it in zone 8a. A styrofoam box would be better I’m sure and add more insulation.

[Zone7Bpalmguy]

11 hours ago, COpalms said:

I have a Sago palm here in zone 6a, Colorado, that's suffered some damage. I've done some research on protection methods and whether it will survive, and have concluded it probably will. I still, however, would love any advice/help you can give me. I have a sago palm (cycas revoluta), and it is surviving, but unfortunately, I was a bit faulty in my protection methods, and it's suffered some cold damage. The tips of the fronds are burnt to a CRISP, and the lower you go, the more bendy you get until they turn green and healthy at the base. The crown and trunk are still alive and healthy, which is all that matters and should, as I've heard at least, push out new fronds this spring.  I had it covered with a Frost King heat cable, a blanket-brand frost cloth, and a cardboard box. This, however, is where I went wrong; I covered the sago with a cardboard box, and it snowed about 4 inches. The top collapsed and let snow touch the frost cloth, which indirectly contacted the tops of the fronds, causing tip burn. I checked on it afterwards, and it had some slight damage, but I then checked on it the next day (it got down to 6-8f (-14 to -13c) that night), and the tips of the fronds, as I stated, had burnt and crisped. As I previously said, the sago should push out a new set of fronds next spring, but until then, I've devised a new idea for protection and will NOT be covering it with a cardboard box again. Until spring, I will hope and pray that she survives, but any help/advice would be great as well as important to me. Have a great day! God bless!

@COpalms I'm not familiar with heat cables, I assume these are providing heat for it. Otherwise I don't believe it will survive without some added heat/warmth, be it lights, etc...  Having said all that, a sago palm can lose its green fronds and still be alive. The fact that you mention you are seeing some green near the trunk is a good sign. I've heard that as long as the caudex (the trunk of a cycad) is firm it's still alive. On the other hand, I have a sago that I believe is dead even though the trunk is still firm to this day.  I didn't protect it much and it was in an exposed location and this past spring (I was unaware a sago could do this) it pulled multiple spears/fronds out of the center of the plant. It never regrew anything this summer. I do have two other sago palms that have survived some serious cold, but they are in sheltered microclimates, i.e. up against the house. I do protect these as well but no additional heat has been provided.  Mine have seen 3'F and an multiple long stretches of below freezing days and nights. Here's one video of mine and you can find others on my channel if you're interested.

 

[DTS]

I used the trash can christmas light method for my sago! It worrked great the first year it was in the ground, and it kept temps about 45-50 degrees while its around 10-15 degrees outside.

[Zone7Bpalmguy]

17 hours ago, DTS said:

I used the trash can christmas light method for my sago! It worrked great the first year it was in the ground, and it kept temps about 45-50 degrees while its around 10-15 degrees outside.

Did you trim the fronds off or was the palm small enough to fit under the trash can?

[Gallop]

It’s fairly easy to protect. Make a small hoop tent with 1” pvc. Use rebar in ground to put your pvc on and bend over to another piece of inground rebar. Cover with 6mil plastic. Use 1” PVC clamps to secure plastic. Use landscape ground pins at bottom. To add heat place a 600w or 1200w heat lamp that farmers use for their barns or chicken coupes. If you don’t want to run an electrical cord. They sell 1.5oz or 2oz frost cloth. Do not buy the cheap stuff, buy the good frost cloth at greenhouse megastore,  it works. I use this method every year. Last year I had several inches of snow with a week of temps below freezing. I had no issues. 

[DTS]

On 12/9/2025 at 4:49 PM, Zone7Bpalmguy said:

Did you trim the fronds off or was the palm small enough to fit under the trash can?

Its still small enough to not need to trim, the fronds end up dying off slowly but it comes back during June/July