About
Dicksonia antarctica, the soft tree fern, is a slow-growing, evergreen tree fern reaching up to 4 m tall with a stout, reddish-brown, fibrous trunk and a terminal rosette of arching, deeply divided, shining, rich-green fronds to 3 m in length. One of the most architectural and ancient-looking plants for a sheltered, moist, partly shaded garden � where it thrives surprisingly well in temperate climates.
About the genus
Dicksonia are evergreen tree ferns, sometimes deciduous in cold areas, with a stout, erect, trunk-like rhizome clothed in fibrous roots and bearing a rosette of large, pinnately divided fronds at the apex. Architectural and striking, they are grown in sheltered, moist, partly shaded gardens.
Plant details
Suggested usesBorders, containers, naturalising in grass.
Care notes
CultivationPlant at appropriate depth in well-drained soil.
PruningAllow foliage to die back naturally after flowering.
PropagationDivide offsets or bulbils when dormant.
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free. Monitor for common garden pests.
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-resistant. Ensure good air circulation.