Scientific Name:
Dicksonia antarcticum
Pronunciation:
DIK-so-nee-uh ant-ARK-tih-kuh
Common Name:
Tasmanian tree fern
Family Name:
Dicksoniaceae
Plant Type:
Fern, Semi-evergreen
Key ID Features:
Fern 2-3m tall with a dark brown fibrous trunk 10-20cm wide; fronds tripinnate, 1-2(-3)m long.
Habit:
Arching, Upright
Form:
Vase, Weeping
Texture:
Very coarse
Mature Height:
3 - 5m
Mature Spread:
3 - 4m
Growth Rate:
Slow
Origin:
Australia / New Zealand
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 8b: (-9.4 to -7 °C)
Exposure:
Part sun/part shade, Filtered shade, Deep shade, Sheltered
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich
Water Use:
High
Landscape Uses:
Specimen plant, Woodland margin
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Compound, Fern-like
Arrangement:
Whorled
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Compound Leaf:
Tripinnate
Colour in Fall:
Yellow
Shapes:
Lanceolate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Truncate
Margins:
Pinnately lobed
Inflorescence Type:
Flower Morphology:
Colour (petals):
Flower Time at Peak:
Fruit Type:
Sporangium (spores)
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Oct, Nov
Additional Info:
Sori form on underside of pinnae on older specimens
Bark Morphology:
Stringy
Bark or Stem Colour:
Dark brown
Leaf Scar Shape:
Round
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes, the rhizome is the erect trunk that only grows locally at about 2-3cm per year
Propagation:
Spore, Division - above ground parts
Other:
Considering the expense, consider raping top of trunk with burlap from December to February to protect growing points from hard frost.
Pest Susceptibility:
Mites, Root rot
