Growing Tree Ferns: Tips at a Glance
- Type Tropical foliage plant
- Life Span Perennial
- USDA Zones 9-11
- Light Sun or some shade
- Water Heavy drinker
- Care Remove damaged fronds
- Design Tip Statement plant
- Companions Tillandsia, orchids, moss
- Peak Season Year-round
Tree Fern: A Field Guide
Cue the theme song for Jurassic Park. The unfurling tree fern fronds of Dicksonia antarctica look prehistoric and exotic in any setting, from a jungle to the prim courtyard at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.
In the wild, tree ferns are typically found in moist areas, along creeks, and in cloud forests. In cultivation, Dicksonia antarctica will be happiest in similar conditions and may grow as tall as 15 feet (with a canopy of the same circumference). Keep soil moist, plant D. antarctica in a spot sheltered from wind, and provide dappled shade.
Native to Australia, the tree fern population has been on the decline for at least two centuries due to destruction of its habitat and over-zealous sellers. Select your tree fern from a reputable nursery.