Dicksonia antartica
Archive entry 31.12.17
Archive entry 22.01.23
17th August 2006
All ferns occupy a world of exquisite details, but tree ferns almost carry it to excess.
11th June 2006
The Australian government has a good record for effective conservation, so I am happy to assume that the licenced export of tree fern trunks is sustainable
and not environmentally damaging.
Given the enormous number that are sold every year, the situation probably needs to be kept under review.
In the meantime, I am pleased to have these two in the conservatory, establishing after their move. Many of those imported will unfortunately die prematurely
in unsuitable locations.
6th February 2007
This plantation at the Eden Project shows them looking at their best, and that they will tolerate a wind blasted open site if they are properly watered.
2nd May 2009
Finally time to repot the larger specimens - it took two of us, but the tiny pots they were in would not have contained them for much longer.
29th June 2013
Eventually both of my large plants had to go out into the garden. This one is settling in under a Eucalyptus in feeble homage to the
Australian woodland it was probably removed from.
31st December 2016
A rethink of the way I am organising the garden has seen me move both of my large tree ferns to the wettest part of the garden. At the same time I was given a number of
sporelings from a garden where they had naturalised. I have planted them in a couple of large groups. As with everybody who has ever planted small tree ferns, I almost
immediately realised they were too close together. After a couple of years they already look squashed in, and eventually I will remove the excess so the remainder
have space to grow properly.
Until then they will look a bit squashed and do a good job of keeping the weeds down.
30th June 2018
Unfortunately the Beast from the East in spring hit the young plants really hard, none of these plants survived. My two large plants are recovering but my lush gove of youngsters
has gone.