Dicksonia
Dicksonia antarctica
A tree fern drinks through its trunk — soak that, not just the ground, and keep the crown from sitting wet.
Light Partial to deep shade; direct sun is to be avoided.
Water Water the trunk and crown regularly, keeping both consistently moist.
Height 3 m
Spread 8 ft 2 in
Spacing 250 cm
Spacing & sowing
- Plant spacing
- 8 ft 2 in
- In-row spacing
- 8 ft 2 in
- Between rows
- 10 ft 3 in
- Square-foot density
- Not suited to SFG
Growing
- Type
- Tree · Perennial
- Botanical family
- Mixed / other
- Sunlight
- Partial to deep shade; direct sun is to be avoided.
- Watering
- Water the trunk and crown regularly, keeping both consistently moist.
- Feeding
- A dilute liquid feed monthly through the growing season.
- Frost tolerant
- Yes
- Flowering
- June
- Pruning
- Cut dead fronds away; never pull them off.
- Overwintering
- Pack the crown with straw or frost cloth below -5°C, and clear it away in spring.
Through the year
- Apr–Jun Spring Growth
- Jun–Oct Flowering
- Oct–Dec Growing
- Dec–Dec Leaf Fall
- Jan–Apr Leaf Fall
Pests & problems
- Root & crown rot Crown rot from waterlogging — see that water drains away from the growing point
- Drought stress The trunk drying out in a dry spell — water the trunk, not only the soil
- Wind tearing the fronds — give it a sheltered position
- Hard frost killing the growing point — cover it below -5°C
The Cottage Garden Companion — the gardener's herbarium at cottagegardencompanion.com