Dicksonia antarctica (Small Size Trunk Tree Fern)

Soft Tree Fern

(35 customer reviews)

From: £92.95

The easiest tree fern to cultivate in the UK, Dicksonia antarctica has spectacular crowns of huge, finely dissected foliage on magnificent broad fibrous trunks.

This Dicksonia antactica has a small sized trunk, sized between 1 – 2 feet tall.

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Origin: Australia and Tasmania
Genus: Dicksonia
Species / Cultivar: antarctica
Common Name: Soft Tree Fern
Synonym: Balantium antarcticum

Plant Biography

Dicksonia are amongst the oldest plants in the world, they even pre-date dinosaurs, existing long before flowering plants evolved. The tall tree fern specimens you can find in wild forests of Australia and New Zealand can be several centuries old.

Dicksonia antarctica (Small Size Trunk Tree Fern)
Soil: Moisture Retaining
Soil that drains at a slower rate due to higher organic matter content.
Growth Rate: Medium
Expect to see moderate growth during growing season.
Water Requirement: High
Likely to require supplementary watering in warmer months, even once established.
Maintenance: A little
Easy to look after but may occasionally require some attention in order to thrive.
Situation: Part Shade
Enjoys several hours of direct sunlight but may enjoy dappling or shade at midday.
Eventual Height: 6m
The plant's ultimate height in typical growing conditions.
Eventual Spread: 4m
The plant's ultimate spread in typical growing conditions.
Hardiness: Hardy
Survives unprotected in an average winter. May need protection in extreme long frosts.
Habit: Semi Evergreen
May only remain evergreen in milder winters, or only loose leaves for a short period.

Expert Tip

We do not recommend cutting the fronds of the tree ferns as this will lead to the trunk becoming thinner as the plant grows.
Sustainably Sourced

Sustainably Sourced

Most of the larger D.antarctica tree ferns we sell come from Victoria, Australia, whilst the juvenile specimens are grown in Europe.

The trunks of D.antarctica are collected from the wild under the strict monitoring of The Department for Sustainability and Environment, under the Flora and Fauna Act of 1988. This ensures that the harvesting is done in a sustainable way, that will not damage the survival of the ecosystem.

Care & Size Guidance

Care & Size Guidance

Dicksonia antarctica is one of the hardier tree ferns suitable in the UK climate. It prefers a position in dappled shade and requires regular watering at the crown throughout spring and summer in order to keep the trunk damp.

In winter, provide some protection for the crown, for instance with the fleece jackets we offer, against frosts.

Dicksonia antarctica are really slow growing, only gaining about 1-2 inches per year in trunk height. A mature plant, with only 2 ft of trunk, can take 25 to 30 years to grow! When planting a tree fern you will lose some height in order to plant it stably in the ground – for instance about a foot on a medium sized tree fern (but much less on a small). Thus we recommend buying a tree fern in the size you want now rather than hoping to see it grow quickly.

Tree fern arrived today. It was beautifully packed and arrived in perfect condition. Easily understood directions enclosed which was excellent

Brian L

Tree fern arrived today. It was beautifully packed and arrived in perfect condition. Easily understood directions enclosed which was excellent

35 customer reviews for Dicksonia antarctica (Small Size Trunk Tree Fern)

I ordered a 1ft Dicksonia it arrived well packed & in excellent condition, I would certainly buy from you again.

Brenda Blackmore

I am truly delighted with my tree fern, (and the free Palm was a bonus). It far surpasses my expectations and already has several beautiful, very healthy new fronds waiting to unfurl. Customer service is 2nd to none as the staff & delivery driver pulled out all the stops to find me when there was an issue with my delivery location. I shall definitely be using The Palm Centre again in the near future. Thanks guys

Michelle Robinson

I am so pleased with the tree ferns that I purchased from you last spring. They look lovely.Such good quality items with god packing and good delivery and good prices.

Rev Geof Squire

A fantastic plant to add that exotic touch to a shady part of the garden. I push a thick layer of straw into the crown and upper 2 feet of the trunk in autumn and cover with plastic, remove in April and stand back as a huge flush of bright green delicate fronds emerge each May!

James Barnet