Dicksonia antarctica (common names: Soft tree fern)

WEIRD&WONDERFUL :D

Feel like im on HOLIDAY in TURKEY NOW :D Trees&Things lol

They are fantastic. Do they come through the winter without needing wrapping?

For the last two years I have got away with just stuffing straw into the crown. But then we have not had any snow or really hard frosts this year. The pic was taken yesterday.

they are fantastic! even at a reduced price i bet they still cost a few bob - but well worth it i would imagine!

You are lucky not to have had much frost, we don't most years here is W.Somerset, but I've lost some plants this year as we have had several hard frosts and I wasn't ready to protect everything! ;-(

I really like these but I think it would get too hot for it here in the summer. I'll just enjoy yours instead

Super. As you have already said, we seem to be able to get away with the minimun of winter and frost protection, as our winters seem to be getting warmer.I have just used a light wrap with fleece this year so far.

Do you give your tree ferns any feed during the summer?
There seems to be mixed views about this.
We mist and water them every day during hot summer days to stop them drying out.
It would be nice to hear from any other G.O.Y members who have tree ferns about this.

During the warm spring and summer nights I hose the fiberous trunk's and let the water rain down on the crowns.
I had them in pots before moving to this house in May 06, since we have been here they absoloutley thrive in this part of the garden. It's moist, shadded and what you cant see is the arch way through the conifer hedge that keeps them cool.

~~~oh sigh~~~

what a fantastic tree fern - i take it is a tree fern? i have seen lots of them before but they always look very sparce on top, this is clearly thriving!

This is my large Tree Fern. It is 6ft and I bought it at Blenheim Palace flower show in 03, for a bargin price of £100. Definately the most expensive plant purchase but not as expensive as some garden centre's charge.

This Tree Fern cost £40 and is 3ft. It came from a nursery near Brighton, about this time of the year as they had a sale on. I think it was called the Big Plant Nursery.

What ferns would you recommend that are evergreen for my 'boring' corner, please Grenville? I'd like to place some interesting shapes together and possibly contrasting colours - is that possible?

I am growing the following ferns;
Harts tongue -Asplenium scolopendium
Japanese fern-Many varieties are available.
Hard shield fern -polystichum aculeautum
Tree fern -Dicksonia antartica (Not hardy needs -winter protection, but superb for an exotic area.)
Male fern- Dryopteris filix mas
Ostrich fern -Matteuccia struthiopteris
Dryopteris erythrosora (Bronze foliage)
Fishbone water fern- Blechnum nudum (From Australia -Not hardy needs winter protection.)
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You might consider planting some ferns in hollow tree stumps that are filled with rich compost to create a Victorian style 'stumpery.'
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Go on line and visit 'Fernatix' at: www.fernatix.co.uk
They are specialist growers and suppliers of ferns from all over the world , and have a mail order service.They have a huge range of ferns for sale ranging from hardy to delicate.
I hope this helps, and good luck with creating your fernery.
Best wishes,
Grenville.

This area looks and sounds a bit special - my wife and were bowled over by 'Fernatix' when we saw them on television a few years ago - we only have a Dryopteris wallichiana, another unknown Dryopteris and Asplenium scolopendrium, but it is an area we would like to develop - they are fascinating plants.

Beautiful detail!

Hi Treesandthings I like the word 'Cheap' or should I say my hubby does!But could you enlighten us on just how cheap these chaps were? Please? Hel.xxx.

The little ones were £40 each the big one cost £100. Big Plant Nursery north of Brighton is a good place to start.

Yep thats a great price for the 6 footer if I can get one near to that size and for that kind of money I will be dead chuffed...I have seen a 5 footer for about £90 but that's counting the size of the container as well although truth be told I think I'll keep mine (when I get them that is) in containers that way if the weather turns really, really bad I can move them to a safer place.Thanks for your reply.Hel.xx.

your ferns look great.......................

You have a real talent for the close-ups.

Your tree ferns are, presumably, quite protected. Ours aren't showing at all yet.

Lovely photo

O the Tree Fern looks Fantastic :O

The tree ferns are very protected and this year is the first time that we havent fleeced them to protect the crowns as the winter was so mild here in Bristol. The new fronds are now appearing, which again, is earlier than last year.

what can I say omg that is fab :)

I'll have to take and add pictures of my tree fern as well. Aren't they just amazing to watch? We just 'lugged' Sheila (its name, pronounced with an Australian accent, or course) out of the garage and into the back yard. Now we need a chiropractor.

When looking in the top of ours my youngest lad said that they looked like little monkey fists when they first start to unfurl.

Beautiful ! I've been meaning to ask if these tree ferns would survive our winters here. I have to Google them.

I really like that, I love ferns.

Did all your Tree ferns survive the snow in April Treesandthings? We have one but we keep it in a pot so we can keep it in the greenhouse for protection in the winter?

I had put straw down the crowns of all three tree ferns. This was enough to keep the cold off etc. We only had snow in April so they didn't have to put up with much. But yes they are all healthy now and love living planted in the soil. I shall take a pick of them today 23/6/08.

I always enjoy seeing your tree ferns. They're wonderful.

Looks so shady. When it's nearly 40 C here photos like this have great appeal.

Amazing..Really, these ferns take my breath away..Great pic..

Not sure what is happening here. Are you making sure it's getting plenty of water?
Is it in a pot?
You say the sticky gum substance appears close to the trunk, is it possible to blast it away with a hose?
Have you got Squirrels, are they being a pain possible chewing at it?
Let me know if you find anything else out as I would be interested to know the real cause.

It love the serene feel of this planting Grenville,I could happily snooze there.:-)

They are lovely

Thank you, the path takes you through an archway in the hedge to another part of the garden. It is shaded just here and they love it.

Fantastic ! Love the textures.

arnt they great. add good struksure to any garden. i have one & you are giving me a few ideas.

Very nice. I love them too but you know I have two tree ferns in my garden, one is at least 4 m tall, but I am allergic to them. Every time I brush against them I break out in an itchy rash. So I have to wear long sleeves now when I cut the old branches off and take them to the compost heap. I wonder if anyone else has that problem too?

Super duper! I always think it is close to a miracle the way so much in there is folded up and when it develops it never seems to amaze me. Your photo is of high quality.

Wow

Wonderful! Shows up MUCH better on your photos than on the video, which kind of distorted things.

Very beautiful Trees.

wow,,,,,,,, welcome to GOY

Golly. I guess they survive the Yorkshire climate! Welcome from me too.

Good gracious me! What a task to get that in position! You obviously enjoy all things tropical. Welcome to GOY.

http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2003/dicksonia-antarctica.html
Have a look there, these are native to South East Australia and you can read up about them.

Welcome Henry, a little bit of the med in your backyard!!

Knocks our jungle into the shade! Welcome to GOY

Very nice.........love the statue peeking out.

I'm jealous. I only have one with a 2 foot trunk and one I bought yesterday which has no trunk yet but was only £3.50. Unfortunately by the time it develops a trunk the only plant I will know are the daisies. Still the grand-kids will no doubt sell it.

Wow, absolutely amazing, are they hard to look after?

Gee whizz, that is very rainforestry looking and that for Hampshire. You have a right jungle there. Lovely.

Forgot to say: they grow native here.

These were pretty much the first things I planted when we moved in two years ago. They are quite sheltered and it is very moist. They get hosed as often as possible during the summer when it is hot and dry (not this year). During the winter I have placed some straw in the crowns and let nature take care. Obviously if it pours down with snow, then i'm out there with a broom to knock it off, like April 8th this year.

Marguerite, I remember seeing in a book some one that had made a fence out of tree fern logs (in your part of the world) and some of it had sprouted growth and looked fantastic.

WOW!!