Intermediate
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Dicksonia antarctica (Soft tree fern)
2 hours care
per year
per year
4m
Max height
Max height
4m
Max spread
Max spread
20-50 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Dicksonia antarctica
Other names
Soft tree fern, Australian tree fern, Tasmanian tree fern, Woolly tree fern
Genus
Dicksonia Dicksonia
Species
D. antarctica - 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.
Dicksonia antarctica is: Evergreen
Tree shape
Single stemmed palm, cycad or tree
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Flower
Insignificant or absent in All seasons
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
General care
Pruning
Remove dead or damaged fronds whenever necessary.
Propagation
If purchased as a 'potter log', plant log 10cm deep.
Propagation methods
Pot up sprouting plantlets, Stem segments
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Dicksonia antarctica (Soft tree fern) will reach a height of 4m and a spread of 4m after 20-50 years.
Suggested uses
Sub-Tropical, City, Architectural, Containers, Instant, Foliage only
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.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Shade
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Dicksonia antarctica
Other names
Soft tree fern, Australian tree fern, Tasmanian tree fern, Woolly tree fern
Genus
Dicksonia Dicksonia
Species
D. antarctica - 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.
Native to
Tasmania
Foliage
Evergreen
Tree shape
Single stemmed palm, cycad or tree
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Insignificant or absent in All seasons
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
General care
Pruning
Remove dead or damaged fronds whenever necessary.
Propagation
If purchased as a 'potter log', plant log 10cm deep.
Propagation methods
Pot up sprouting plantlets, Stem segments
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Dicksonia antarctica (Soft tree fern) will reach a height of 4m and a spread of 4m after 20-50 years.
Suggested uses
Sub-Tropical, City, Architectural, Containers, Instant, Foliage only
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.
Soil type
Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Shade
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
feb 2012 (05/05/2012)
Tasmanian Tree Fern (08/09/2010)
fronds in spring 2012 (05/05/2012)
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Shade | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
By Hertfordshire based garden designer Judy Shardlow of Heartwood Garden Design. This garden was designed to create a relaxing traditional English garden and in particular to create a warm enclosed… read more
By garden designer Stuart Charles Towner. Spirit of Cornwall - a garden inspired by the work of sculptor Barbara Hepworth with music by composer Leo Geyer commissioned by the Hepworth Estate and Tate… read more
My beautiful Oxfordshire garden was revitalised with the help of Mark Griffiths. Sheltered by old walls and high fences, the garden that surrounds my North Oxford home covers about 750 square metres. read more
"The Journey of Life” garden marks the birth of a new style of garden design “Poetic Gardens”, as identified by landscape designer and 2015 gold medal winner, Edward Mairis. read more
By garden designer Sarah Eberle.The 2017 Hillier Chelsea Flower Show garden has been inspired by one simple word: Spring. read more
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login
DISCUSS THIS PLANT
Fern garden
Is it dead
Do I cover crown from heat?
Can i plant out yet
There are 2 active discussions about Dicksonia antarctica (Soft tree fern)
View all discussions