Our favourite tree fern, Dicksonia antarctica comes from south-east Australia. They never lose their leaves and grow back on thick, fluffy trunks that can get as tall as 15 feet or more after many years. Their canopy of delicately feathered symmetrical fronds can grow to 12ft across. No wonder then, that theyre called tree ferns. The view from above is unsurpassable. The face that plants show to the sun is often their finest face. In the case of tree ferns, this is undoubtedly true. This is why they are perfect for planting in areas where you can look down on them. For those who like to take risks, why not build a raised walkway to see them from above? Planting them in a grove as part of a woodland path can also create a shady area that is perfect for a wide range of underplanting.
It’s interesting that the shorter, younger Dicksonia antarctica plants tend to grow in places where trees like Eucalyptus are grown for money. After both tree fern and Eucalyptus have been removed from an area, the ground is burned, and the pioneer species are the first to grow through. The taller specimens are harvested from areas of hardwood production.
With its graceful, arching fronds and slender trunk, the Australian tree fern (Cyathea cooperi) is an elegant addition to gardens and landscapes. One of the benefits of growing this exotic plant is its relatively fast growth rate compared to other tree ferns. In this article we’ll look at how quickly the Australian tree fern grows and what factors influence its growth.
Fast Growth in Native Habitat
In its natural habitat in the rainforests of Australia and New Zealand, the Australian tree fern displays exceptional growth. Under ideal warm, humid, and shady conditions, these trees can grow up to 6 feet per year when they are young. Mature specimens frequently reach impressive heights of 50 feet or more in the wild.
The tree fern’s shallow spreading root system efficiently absorbs moisture and nutrients. Its large divided fronds also maximize light capture. These natural adaptations allow the Australian tree fern to exploit its environment and grow rapidly in the forest understory.
Typical Growth Rate in Gardens
When cultivated in home gardens or as houseplants, Australian tree ferns grow at a slightly slower, but still respectable rate. On average, you can expect growth of 1 to 3 feet per year. The actual rate depends on the growing conditions you can provide.
Container-grown specimens and those kept indoors tend to be at the lower end of this range. Tree ferns planted in the landscape where they can spread out may achieve faster growth. Proper siting, water, fertilization, and care make a difference.
Factors Influencing Growth Rate
To achieve optimal growth from your Australian tree fern, pay attention to these important factors:
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Climate – The warmer and more humid the climate, the better these tropical plants will grow. Avoid cold winters.
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Sunlight – Partial sun or bright shade mimics their native forest habitat. Low light slows growth.
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Moisture – Consistent moisture is crucial. Soil should never be allowed to fully dry out.
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Soil – Rich soil with ample organic matter provides nutrients for rapid growth.
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Space – Give the spreading fronds room to develop to their full size.
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Pruning – Remove dead fronds to improve air circulation and light penetration.
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Fertilization – Use a balanced slow-release fertilizer to maintain lush growth.
By tuning your care and cultivation practices to the needs of this fast-growing fern, you can achieve close to its maximum growth potential.
Caring for a Rapidly Growing Tree Fern
The Australian tree fern’s speedy growth means it can outpace other plants in the garden. You may need to provide a bit extra care and maintenance to keep it looking its best:
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Check soil moisture frequently and water liberally during dry periods.
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Apply organic mulch around the trunk to conserve moisture.
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Stake or trellis the trunk if it becomes floppy under the weight of heavy fronds.
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Prune fronds as needed to control size and maintain air circulation.
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Transplant container specimens to larger pots to accommodate the expanding root system.
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Monitor for pests like scale and mealybugs that can affect fast-growing plants.
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Remove older fronds as new ones emerge to keep the plant compact and encourage new growth.
With quick growth comes some extra responsibility, but it’s worth it for these stately, impressive ferns.
Uses for Fast-Growing Australian Tree Ferns
The rapid growth of the Australian tree fern makes it a great choice for these uses where quick impact is desired:
- Providing a tropical look in a hurry
- Serving as a fast-growing screen or hedge
- Creating a theme or focal point rapidly
- Using in containers where regular transplanting is feasible
- Filling space efficiently as other plants slowly mature
- Producing lush greenery on porches or patios quickly
Homeowners and landscapers can take advantage of this relatively fast growing fern tree for projects where establishing height or a tropical mood is a priority.
Achieving Balance Through Pruning
If your rapidly growing Australian tree fern starts to get unbalanced, with a top-heavy crown of fronds above a spindly trunk, pruning is the solution. Here are some tips:
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Prune the upper fronds to reduce the sail area causing leaning.
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Prune lower fronds to allow more light penetration to the trunk.
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Make pruning cuts flush to the stem for a clean look.
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Avoid removing more than 1/3 of the fronds at one time.
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Prune fronds as needed during the growing season to maintain form.
With judicious pruning, you can maintain a balanced canopy and prevent collapse from excess top growth.
The Australian tree fern’s rapid growth rate gives it great landscape value and makes it an exciting plant to cultivate. Take advantage of its speedy growth by providing optimal conditions. Keep up with maintenance to ensure this fast grower always looks its best. Your efforts will be rewarded with a graceful, mature specimen in just a few short years.
How to grow and care for a tree fern
Much is spoken on the hardiness of these plants since their importation from Australia in the mid-1990s. This is a plant whose geographical distribution reaches from central Tasmania to southern Queensland. It looks like this hardiness varies from plant to plant after a very cold winter, but there’s no way to tell which ones are hardy and which ones aren’t until it’s too late. So, if your garden gets cold, wrap your tree fern up in the winter. The most important thing is to protect the crown. Cover the crown with fleece (you can also use straw) to keep the new spring fronds from growing too quickly. We don’t see the point in fleecing and tying up the fronds because they always look so worn out when you take them off the string. We prefer to leave the unfurled fronds for additional winter theatre (you never know – it might snow). When the frost hits in early March, you can cut off fronds that are damaged so that beautiful new knuckles and fronds can grow. If it’s not a terrible winter, you’ll be happy to see hints of a new crown of fronds coming up when you take off the winter protection. If you can, you can also put a stack of straw bales around each plant, which also works well.
Everything you need to know about tree ferns
Tree ferns have all-root trunks, so you can cut one down with a chainsaw, take off all the fronds, put it in a clean, cold container, send it halfway around the world, plant it in a pot, and let it start a new life. The idea that this can be done with utter impunity is untrue, though. It will certainly notice but, given time and the right spot, it will regain its former majesty. When the tree is planted and the base of the trunk touches wet compost, it starts to grow new roots. Itll often take 12 months to fill a standard pot with roots.
The taller the tree fern, the longer it takes for the fronds to unfurl following their journey. When the new fronds first come up, they kind of look like an orangutan’s clenched index finger. They can be fully spread out in six weeks, with an arching span of six to eight feet.
The rate of growth varies enormously, according to microclimate and soil conditions. One that is healthy will grow a new rosette of fronds in the spring and then stop growing until the next spring. If the Dicksonia is happy, it will do the same thing and then keep throwing out new leaves at an amazing rate. In well-kept coastal gardens from west Dorset to northwest Scotland, they grow in large numbers. These gardens are found all along the coast. Also, in central London they’ve become common place, with the South East of England following close behind.
Australian tree fern
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