Dicksonia antartica
This tree fern is a must have plant for the exotic garden. Its beautiful soft green fronds add drama. Imagine growing a plant that dinosaurs brushed against as they made their way through lush forests 230 million years ago. Fossil evidence shows that this fern was growing long before man began his reign on earth. During this period the worlds landmass, was joined together in one supercontinent, the climate was warm and there were no ice caps. This was a time before flowering plants had evolved, earth was covered with conifer trees, ferns, cycads and massive treeferns. In this far off time Dicksonia antartica must have provided a tasty meal for passing Diplodocus. This plant is still with us today, unchanged in over 230 million years, its stately form adding a primeval feeling to the garden.
The rapid growth of Dicksonia antartica over a 3 week period in Spring.
Due to forest clearance in its homeland Dicksonia antartica is now available as large specimens to U.K gardeners. If you buy a newly imported log do not be alarmed at the lack of a root system. The whole trunk is composed of roots and the portion that is buried at planting time will soon extend out into the surrounding soil and anchor the plant. It pays to improve the soil when planting out with the addition of a tree planting mixture available from garden centres, this gives the newly extending roots a helping hand when spreading to the surrounding soil.
Tree ferns naturally grow in damp conditions and revel in having their trunks soaked at regular intervals. This, coupled with fortnightly feeding with dilute seaweed extract directly into the growing point, will reward you with lush 1.5 metre fronds even on plants with barely 30cm of trunk. Treeferns grow slowly, usually having one stunning spurt of growth in the spring and then settling to display their wonderful fronds. You may gain 3 or 4cm of trunk a year, consider this when buying and you will realise that although taller plants are expensive, you are gaining a lot of years of growth.
I have recently given my tree ferns less protection than I used to in winter, I now allow the crown to fill with oak leaves that fall in profusion from a nearby tree in autumn forming an insulating layer to protect the young crosiers. If you don't have an obliging tree nearby a handful of straw pushed into the crown with the arrival of frost should surfice, but be aware that if the temperature turns really cold you will have to supply additional insulation including the whole trunk, horticultural fleece or similar is normally sufficient. These are generally trouble free plants that reward a little care and attention ten fold with the lushness they add to the garden in summer.