Present Status of Growing Sago Palms in Japan:

Result of Questionnaire

Abstract

 In order to develop sago palm study for the future, a questionnaire on growing Metroxylon sagu Rottb. was sent out to 45 Japanese institutes by the Secretariat of the Japanese Society of Sago Palm Studies. The rate of recovery was 82%. Sago palms, introduced from Southeast Asia as seeds or seedlings, were growing in 8 botanical gardens (Tsukuba Botanical Garden, National Science Museum, Yumenoshima Tropical Greenhouse Dome, Irozaki Jungle Park, Toyama Central Botanical Garden, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, The Kyoto Botanical Garden, The Botanical Garden of Osaka City University, Okinawa Memorial National Government Park) and one university (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology) in Japan. The largest sago palm in Japan was up to 2 to 3m in leaf length and still did not form the trunk. Many botanical gardens hoped to get and exhibit sago palms in their green houses. It has become clear that when sago palms are maintained indoors at more than 25°C and with flooded soil, they can grow well.