Sago Palm Freeze Damage: Assessment and Recovery

The brown, yellowing fronds on your newly planted sago palms are classic cold damage. While sagos (Cycas revoluta) can survive brief dips to 15°F, exposure to wind, duration of the freeze, and plant size all affect survival. The balmy December followed by January lows in the teens caught many plants off guard.

What to Do Now

1. Remove all damaged fronds at the base. This improves appearance and reduces fungal risk.
2. Wait and watch. If the woody crown (the "caudex") didn't freeze, vigorous new growth often emerges in May.
3. Don't fertilize yet. Wait until new growth is well underway.

Sago palms are tough. Even if they look terrible now, they often rebound surprisingly well. Let me know how they progress!

frozen sago palm

healthy sago palm