Tree Ferns

Tree Ferns or Dicksonia Antarctica

Tree ferns, particularly the Dicksonia antarctica, bring an exotic and prehistoric vibe to gardens. Their lush, arching fronds create a tropical aesthetic, making them a focal point in shaded or woodland-style gardens. Here’s why they’re worth planting:

• Aesthetic Appeal: Tree ferns add height, texture, and visual interest to garden designs, especially in shaded areas.
• Durability: Despite their exotic look, many tree ferns, like the Dicksonia antarctica, are hardy and suitable for UK climates.
• Wildlife Friendly: The dense canopy provides habitat for birds and insects, enhancing garden biodiversity.
• Long Lifespan: With proper care, tree ferns can thrive for decades.
• Versatility: They work well in mixed borders, containers, or as standalone specimens.
• Growth:  Very slow growing only making about 10cm of growth each year,

Where to Site Your Tree Ferns

A few suggestions as to where you can plant Dicksonias

• Mixed flower borders
• Woodland gardens
• Shaded borders
• North-facing walls or courtyards
• Under the canopy of taller trees
• Near water features or garden ponds

By planting your tree fern in a shaded, sheltered, and moist spot, you'll create an environment that mirrors its native habitat, helping it thrive and flourish.

How to Grow and Look after your Tree Ferns

Growing tree ferns is easy, but there are a few tips we can give. They are cut from the forest with a chain saw and therefore have no roots when they come to you. Pick a nice shady or semi shady spot and plant in the ground deep enough to keep them stable; about one sixth of its' trunk should be enough.

As they will have no roots to start with, you should water into the crown, so that the water just runs out of the top and down the trunk. Do this about once a week in dry weather for the first season. Within a year or so it will make its' own new roots and take care of its' own water.

Now in "normal winters" it is quite common in suburban gardens for the fronds to stay green all year. That it is not a problem, leave them alone unless they look ugly. Up north or in more exposed gardens, as soon as jack frost has blackened the fronds in November cut them off down to the crown and pack some fleece or sack in the crown and wrap the top 30-60cm with some more sack or fleece. We top ours with a hat like an upturned plastic plant pot to keep it all in place. In spring, around the end of March - mid April uncover the top and wait for the magic to begin again.