Pigeon Holes: Ferns

There seems to be much confusion about the growing of the Tasmanian Tree Ferns, Dicksonia antarctica, in South-East England. We don't subscribe to the belief that they're particularly hardy in Britain - personal experience has shown us that a succession of cold winters will polish them off. Understanding that their natural habitat is in evergreen temperate rain forest helps. Given a position in shade and very well protected from the wind, under tall evergreens is best. It's rarely humid enough in Britain during the summer, so frequent spraying of the trunks with water, or, rigging up an irrigation system to automatically water the trunk is essential. Pouring extremely dilute seaweed extract into the centre of a tree fern, from time to time, during the growing season seems to have sensational results. In central London this should be sufficient but in cold rural areas (such as here in Nuthurst), bales of straw must be used to protect the plant during the winter - usually, for January and February only.

Recommended Essentials:

Asplenium scolopendrium

Blechnum chilense

Blechnum spicant

Dicksonia antarctica

Dryopteris erythrosora

Matteuccia struthiopteris

Osmunda regalis

Polystichum munitum

Polystichum polyblepharum

Polystichum setiferum

Polystichum setiferum 'Plumosum'

Pteris cretica

Woodwardia radicans

Woodwardia unigemmata