This large evergreen tree fern is endemic to Australia where it grows in moist areas such as the creek beds and gullies of woodlands. It is the most common tree fern in Australia and can form extensive stands . The reddish-brown trunk of the tree is an erect rhizome enclosed in fibrous roots and supports a rosette of fronds. The dark green fronds are leathery, rough, and may be up almost ten feet long. They have brown hairs on their bases and mid ribs. The “trunk” produces offsets which can be cut off and rooted. An excellent choice for a patio container.
Type: Evergreen tree fern
Outstanding Feature: Large fronds
Form: Umbrella
Growth Rate: Slow
Bloom: None
Size: 20’ H x 13’ W (6’ H x 4’ W in container)
Light: Partial shade to shade
Soil: Fertile, organically rich, moist; plant must not dry out.
Hardiness: Zones 9-11
Pests and Diseases: None of significance
Propagation: Spores (but the plants take 20 years or more to produce spores), off sets
Karen Meyers