DICKSONIA antartica

Dicksonia antarctica is the classic Tasmanian tree fern prized for its bold, architectural presence: a fibrous, trunk-forming fern crowned with a shuttlecock of large, fresh-green fronds. Best grown in sheltered, humid shade, it prefers a consistently moist, humus-rich, preferably acidic soil and benefits from watering into the crown during the growing season. In colder regions, protect the crown in winter with fleece or straw; fronds may be cut by frost but new ones follow in spring. Slow-growing, it makes an impressive focal point for woodland, courtyard and architectural planting schemes.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Light shade to full shade; sheltered

Rate of Growth: Slow

Soil: Moist, humus-rich; prefers acidic soil

Hardiness: Hardy in mild areas (RHS H3); protect crown in severe cold

Plant at a Glance