Cycas — 17 species

Cycas are ancient, slow-growing cycads that evoke a prehistoric grandeur — species such as Sago Palm (Cycas revoluta), Siamese Sago Palm, and Australian Cycad make striking architectural specimens indoors or in sheltered outdoor positions. They demand very bright light, ideally within a foot of a south-facing window, and should be watered sparingly every one to two weeks, allowing the soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Every part of every Cycas species is severely toxic to cats and dogs — even one or two seeds can be fatal — so this genus must be kept completely out of reach of pets.