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Tropical Plants - Australia

Tree Fern queries

19 years ago

Hi All,

Apologies for this, but some of the material on the web contradicts what I've seen in the 'real' world.

1. Sun-tolerance : I have seen photos of tree ferns which seem to be in full sun, to the extent that they are providing shade for the understorey plants. Is this achievable in Oz's blistering summer sun, and for which species ?

2. Is Dicksonia Antarctica suited to subtropical climates ? It seems to be more at home in the temperate rainforest, and I havent seen any in the local nurseries.

3. Growth rates : I have a Cyathea Brownii (marketed as the 'Norfolk Island Tree Fern') : it did grow quickly at first, but seems to have plateaued. I admit that I have restricted any feeding to mulch and the leaves which fall from my Mango tree directly onto the fern. I have a couple of Bird's Nest ferns under the same tree, and they grow like weeds (fantastic plant all round, this one :) ).

Thanks,

Artie

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Comments (5)

CoralCoast_Tropicals
19 years ago
Cyathea cooperii seems to be the best for coastal Queensland. It will tolerate a lot of sun if it has adequate (ample) water. I have trouble keeping it alive here due to my sandy loam soil draining and drying too quickly. There is another Cyathea from PNG that will take full sun but it is slow growing, it goes under the trade name of 'Highland Lace'. I have grown it before and found it to be quite hardy.

Andrew.
artiew
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks Andrew - my C. Cooperii seem to be coping, just not growing particularly quickly. My focus at the moment is keeping as many plants alive as possible in the 39 deg days (+high humidity) that Rocky is currently being blessed with, but I do need to get in and feed these ferns : I just have to be careful that I dont kill them with kindness.

Watching last nights story on the Qld governments proposal to lock up 1 million hectares of forest was a bittersweet experience : they showed footage of loggers dragging their newly-cut timber across the understorey, effectively killing huge ferns in the process. The sooner they bring in the legislation, the better off we'll all be.
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zeta9
19 years ago
Hello, allow me to add a couple of points for those tree ferns that I so envy growing in your part of the world.

Cyathea cooperi and brownii are a group of Cyatheas that require exposure to sun when they grow older. These belong to the Sphaeropteris group that is generally made up of fast and large growing tree ferns.

When young, they need filtered shade. AND they need good drainage and constant moisture. 39C in the day? does the night temp drop to 20C or lower? If so, the Cyathea cooperi or brownii might be able to take a spot with sun. (Best is morning sun and afternoon shade)

The other tree fern Cyathea australis on the other hand is a strictly forest shade creature.
amauto_internode_on_net
13 years ago
Hi all has any one ever had a reaction to the sap of the fern tree. I would be interested to hear if anyone has and what they did for it.
Cheers
Ann
Makayla Shrum
4 years ago
HELP!!! I bought a Australian tree fern from a local nursery, the fern was in the corner looking sad and wilting so I brought it home, I potted it in a mulch blend. I have watered her everyday but her fronds seem to be wilting still and browning. I’m not really sure what to do or how to make her better. I really love this fern and want it to grow and be health and beautiful. Any help with be greatly appreciated.

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