Dicksonia antarctica (Soft tree fern)

Other names: Australian tree fern, Tasmanian tree fern, Woolly tree fern

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Species

D. antarctica is an evergreen tree fern with a thick reddish-brown, fibrous, trunk-like stem topped with a rosette of long, arching, glossy, deeply divided, dark-green fronds.

Season of interest

Flower
	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Flower
Foliage
	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Foliage

Height and spread

Metric |
Imperial

Height and spread Metric \| Imperial
Size	Max height	Max spread	To maturity
4 m	4 m	20-50 years
13 ft	13 ft	20-50 years

Height and spread

Metric |
Imperial

Size

Max height

Max spread

To maturity

4 m

20-50 years

13 ft

20-50 years

Where to grow

Soil

Soil type

Loamy
Sandy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

Acid
Neutral

Conditions

Sunlight

Partial Shade
Full Shade

Aspect

East
West
South

Exposure

Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

In frost-free ares, grow outdoors in humus-rich, moist, but well-drained, neutral to acid soil in full or partial shade. Water the stem regularly in hot, dry summers. Avoid watering the crown in winter. Evergreen in mild areas only. In cold, wet, and frost-prone winters, protect the crown with a thick layer of straw.

Suggested uses

Containers/Patio, Architectural, Sub-Tropical, City, Instant, Foliage only

UK hardiness

USDA zones

Zone 9, Zone 10, Zone 11

Sunset zone

8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = High
Central Valley = High
South Coastal = High
South Inland = High
High and Intermediate Desert = Inappropriate
Low Desert = Inappropriate

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Arching

Native to

Tasmania

Drought tolerant

Flood tolerant

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning and propagation

Pruning

Remove dead or damaged fronds whenever necessary.

Propagation methods

Pot up sprouting plantlets, Stem segments

Propagation

If purchased as a 'potter log', plant log 10cm deep.

Pests and diseases

Pests

Diseases

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (4)

Dicksonia

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0 selected Add to a plant list

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Dicksonia antarctica Soft tree fern

Dicksonia squarrosa Brown tree fern

Dicksonia fibrosa Golden tree fern

Dicksonia youngiae Bristly tree fern

Companion plants (0)

Related content

Discuss this plant

Re: Is it dead

Shoot User

1306 0

Hi Stuart.I have just joined shoot .I am having the same trouble with my dicksonia antartica this year.How did yours get on ?
thanks
Anthony

Posted: Friday 1st of June 2012 07:29 AM

Re: Re: Fern garden

Nicola

978 0

Thanks Kathy!

Hi Jacky - here is the Advanced plant search. Here is the search results for all the ferns listed in Shoot too.Hope that helps!

Posted: Monday 31st of October 2011 07:24 AM Last reply: Monday 31st of October 2011 07:25 AM

Re: Fern garden

Kathy N

978 1

Hi, Jacky,
So many options! You could go with other Australian natives requiring the same conditions, or a fern garden, or do a search here on Shoot for plants that match the conditions your tree fern needs. Just do an Advanced Search, plugging in the attributes you require.
Kathy C

Posted: Sunday 30th of October 2011 08:19 PM

Fern garden

Shoot User

978 1

I have just bought a Dicksonia Antarctica and am planning a fern garden. the bottom of my garden is damp and cool, grass won't grow. I have just been to the cloud forest in Peru and was inspired by the beautiful ferns. What would look good with my tree fern? I have a space of 8' x 12', all shaded.

Posted: Sunday 30th of October 2011 05:10 PM Last reply: Saturday 1st of March 2025 12:58 PM

Is it dead

Shoot User

1306 1

I have my tree ferns planted out in the garden. Although I covered it with fleece during the winter there have been no new fronds this year so far. Could these be considered as having died?

Posted: Thursday 9th of June 2011 04:08 PM Last reply: Saturday 1st of March 2025 01:08 PM

curled up leafs

Shoot User

1819 0

Hi i brought a dicksonia antartica 2 days ago and after a day of having it the leafs have all curled up. is there anyway of sorting this out they are also still very green. but a little dry. it is potted up and have now put it outside today. can you advise me on what to do please my fern is very young and is only in a 9cm pot. it is winter here in the uk but is not freezin today only misty.

Posted: Saturday 6th of February 2010 04:41 PM Last reply: Saturday 6th of February 2010 04:42 PM