Dicksonia antarctica breaks for the border

In 1999 I bought a Dicksonia antarctica (Tree Fern). Back then the trunk was about 9 inches long. I’ve kept it in a pot until today, when I finally decided to plant it out in a shady garden border. The trunk which shows above ground is now 17 inches high. Yes, this is a very, very, slow growing fern. I’ve read that average growth is about one inch (2 cm) per year.

No doubt some of you readers out there are knee deep in tree ferns and find them quite run of the mill. Me, I find them quite exotic and they do grow well outside in some sheltered parts of the UK. There was a wonderful display of tree ferns at the Lost Gardens Of Heligan in Cornwall where I took this photograph. Please note that mine has some way to go before it catches up with these specimens.

It is not true that a tree fern has no soil based root system (a sort of gardening myth that has grown up because the plant is often sold as a short section of trunk, like a log). It actually absorbs water via an extensive under ground root system as well as via fibrous roots in its trunk. When the “log” is planted in soil, roots develop as normal. It is important to water the trunk in dry weather because of the root system there.

While it can tolerate some sun it prefers dappled shade and protection from strong winds which can damage the fronds and cause tall ferns to topple over if their underground root system is not well developed. The crown should be protected with fleece and bubble wrap during winter, especially if the plant is relatively small like mine. Sensible precautions really as you don’t want to lose a plant which grows so slowly. The fronds are likely to be damaged in the winter but I’ll aim to include mine in the general winter wrapping, then cut off the tatty ones when I unwrap in the spring. It is best to retain them as long as possible possible as they provide food for the plant. The new fronds are so beautiful as they slowly uncurl in the spring.

I hope all this goes to plan and my tree fern survives. Talking of which here is my little fellow roaming free in the border. Don’t you dare laugh and hurt his feelings. He’ll be grown up one day.