This popular plant can kill your dog, your children, and it doesn’t like you very much either

I first wrote about Sago Palms around Christmas time when a police dog near where I live died as the result of chewing on one in his handler’s yard.

All parts of this ancient plant are poisonous.

While doing research I realized that a tree in my own yard which had tried to kill me a few years ago was a Sago Palm that had grown into adulthood.

Recently a puppy in Georgia and one in Florida died after chewing on the plant. Children are attracted to the colorful seeds.

When I visited the nurseries of two chain stores recently, the Sago Palm was prominently displayed with no warning. I see it cropping up more and more in landscapes in newer developments around town.

While it is a popular landscape planting in warmer climates, it is being sold as an exotic houseplant in colder locations without identifying it as a Sago Palm.

If you can’t resist buying it, please remember to keep dogs and children away from it.

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Comments

[Pamela]

I guess that places that don't have harsh winters to kill things off, the flora takes on the job itself.

I'm glad your near-death experience with the palm turned out well.

[Mary]

I saw several in a national chain drugstore last week in NC. They were quite small. I thought they were attractive and was considering buying one when I figured out what it was by reading the tag. It said clearly "Sago Palm". I didn't see anything else on the tag about it being poisonous, but I remembered your previous post - I actually jumped back from the thing! Now I wish I had spoken with the manager because a child could have grabbed one since they were on a low display. I'll go back tomorrow. I hope they haven't sold many.

[Becky]

I did not know that about Sago Palms. Good thing I don't have one.

[jackie]

or you could invite all the people you dislike and have them try the new fruit off the palm.

[cube]

We have many palm trees on our property, but they are true palms and not cycads. Thanks to you I would never allow a Sago palm to flourish in my yard.

[Flynnah]

Thank you for this post! I would be very upset if anything happened to my puppy, roxy.
she even has her own blog: destructivepuppy.blogspot.com.au

[Linda]

'm so glad you survived your near death experience!!!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlifewordpress.com