Tree fern Dicksonia antarctica nature
Green leaves fern Dicksonia antarctica
Dicksonia antarctica fern, young leaves rolled up and fluffy
Stipe brown rough fern Dicksonia antarctica
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Dicksonia antarctica, the tree fern from the ends of the earth
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Dicksonia antarctica grows in the cloud forests of Australia and Tasmania. Accustomed to high altitudes, this tree fern of the Dicksoniaceae family can also withstand our winters. It adds an exotic touch to our gardens and landscaping.
How to recognize the Dicksonia antarctica tree fern?
In its natural habitat, Dicksonia antarctica reaches heights of up to fifteen meters. In our latitudes, it rarely exceeds six meters.
The Tasmanian fern has no trunk, but a stipe. When fully grown, it can reach 50 centimetres in diameter. This fibrous reddish-brown false trunk is covered with the debris of old fronds and their petioles. It can grow straight or curved. Its luxuriant crown of leaves gives it the appearance of a palm tree.
The fronds of this perennial herb are bipinnate or tripinnate. Initially pale green, they darken with age. The lance-shaped leaves are two to four meters long. They are hairy and soft to the touch.
Like other ferns, the Tasmanian fern does not flower. But its evergreen foliage and hardiness are enough to make it a popular ornamental plant with gardeners and landscapers alike.
Dicksonia antarctica is non-toxic. Its pith, rich in starch, was eaten by the Tasmanian Aborigines. Its leaves are also edible, but their bitter taste and slimy consistency make them less popular.
Our maintenance tips
To care for your Dicksonia antarctica, you need to protect it in winter and water it through the foliage.
Watering
Your Dicksonia antarctica appreciates humidity, but its roots fear over-watering. Water into the heart of the foliage. The water that runs off wets the stipe before reaching the roots.
The substrate and trunk should be kept slightly moist. When they are dry, you can water. Constant humidity helps the plant thrive and keeps pests at bay.
Preferably use non-calcareous water, such as rainwater. In pots, never leave water standing in the saucer.
Spray
Dicksonia antarctica like high humidity. Mist their foliage with non-calcareous water, such as rainwater, at room temperature.
Repotting
In spring, transfer your Dicksonia antarctica to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.
In a large, perforated pot, place a bed of clay balls, gravel or small pebbles about 20% of the way up. This layer promotes drainage and prevents root rot.
Fill your pot with a draining substrate, such as potting soil for green plants. Plant your Dicksonia antarctica in the center and cover.
To improve humidity, place your plant in a saucer filled with moist clay balls.
Fertilization
You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.
Ferns have a fragile root system. Applying fertilizer directly to the soil could damage it. Dilute liquid green plant fertilizer with water and pour into the heart of the foliage, just as you would when watering.
Plantation
Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can plant.
Find a shady spot , sheltered from the wind and relatively isolated: the foliage of your Dicksonia antarctica needs room to flourish.
Dig a hole two or three times larger than the root ball. If your soil is heavy, add gravel or pozzolan to the bottom to improve drainage.
Plant your Dicksonia antarctica in the middle, with the trunk upright. To ensure stability, bury about a third of the stipe. Fill in with a mixture of potting soil and garden soil. Pack by hand to eliminate air bubbles.
To keep the soil cool, cover the surface with a mixture of peat moss and dead leaves. Water for the first time after planting.
Diseases / Threats
Information
| Family | Dicksoniaceae - Dicksoniaceae |
| Type | Dicksonia - Dicksonia |
| Species | Dicksonia antarctica - Dicksonia antarctica |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Exposure | |
| Substrats | |
| Planting methods |
Open ground In pots |
| Category | |
| Tag |
Large pot |
| Origins |
Oceania Australia |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 8b |
| Leaf color |
|
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