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Tree Fern 'Dicksonia Antractica' Log

One of the world's most ancient plants!
Just £69.99
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1 x 30cm Log - SKU: 500070 - *Despatched from 14/11/2024
Just £69.99
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Key Features

  • An amazing and hardy down to -5 plant - a relic of prehistoric times, yet suited to British gardens
  • Harvested under strict license from Australian Woodlands, supplies are very short
  • Incredible fronds which reach over 1m long!
  • Thrive in shade, do not allow centres to dry out, as this is where the growth comes from
  • Supplied as a sawn log approx. 30cm tall, pot on or plant shallowly in the garden soil. Supplied dormant with fronds that unfurl with time. Some may take up to two months for notable growth, but trust us, the wait will certainly be worth it!
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Description

Tree ferns were a firm plant hunter's favourite from Victorian times, a symbol of wealth and travel experiences to Australia. They have maintained this sense of mystique ever since. Now you too can grow these surprisingly easy and exotic looking plants too.

Harvested under strict license from woodland clearance in Australia and Tasmania, these astonishing plants really will delight and amaze. They grow under the woodland canopy, in the shade, so grow them here in a sheltered spot too. These 'potter' logs are already over 10 years old, and have been cut back and harvested dormant. When you water them via the top crown, they will burst back to life, like it's the new rainy season! Because they grow in leaf canopies, most of their food comes from leaves falling into their giant shuttlecock like fronds, funnelling the goodness into the growing crown. Even at this size of log at 30cm tall, new fronds of almost 1m in length will unfurl spectacularly in time. It's amazing when they come how quickly they grow.

The plant is hardy down to -5C in winter, although the fronds will die back. Cutting these off when they die back is what creates the new trunk, which slowly inches up over many, many years. Keep the crown protected in winter with a layer of straw or wrap in a layer of horticultural fleece to keep cold and wet out. When you get it home, plant it in a big pot, or in the garden soil. Supplied dormant, with fronds that unfurl with time. Some may take up to two months for notable growth, but trust us, the wait will certainly be worth it!

Top Tips
  • Do not be tempted to remove the dead and dried leaves as they provide extra protection from freezing in winter and protect the plant from drying winds. In addition, they help keep humidity around the trunk.
  • Plants grow by about 2.5cm a year so it is best to buy as large a plant as possible if you want an instant effect.
Care Information

Your tree fern will thrive in a sheltered, humid and shaded position, with plenty of room to spread
For best results, plant in humus-rich, neutral to slightly acid soil.

Planting Advice for Dicksonia antarctica

  • Soak the base of the trunk, then plant just enough of it to ensure that the plant remains stable.
    After planting frondless tree ferns, water every day until the foliage starts to emerge.
  • To encourage rooting, don’t feed the plant during its first year.
  • Tree ferns can also be grown in pots and should be planted in loam-based ericaceous compost, adding about 20 percent peat-free potting media for additional humus.
  • Apply a half strength liquid fertiliser once a week during the growing season or add a controlled-release granular fertiliser at the base of the plant in spring.
  • Top-dress container-grown plants or pot on annually in spring.

Aftercare Advice for your Tree Fern

  • The trunk and crown of tree ferns will not tolerate drying out, so water regularly to ensure the trunk remains damp, and spray the trunk with water during hot weather (and also during dry conditions in winter).
  • After the first year of planting, apply a liquid feed such as HSK Specialist Tree Fern Feed, to the fronds and trunk once a month, from mid-spring to mid-summer, when the plant is in growth.
  • Alternatively, spread controlled-release fertiliser around the base of the plant in spring.
  • Young plants can be stood outside in the summer but keep out of direct sunlight. Avoid indoor temperatures greater than 32C.

Winter protection

  • Hardiness tends to increase with the height of the growing point above the ground so young plants with no trunk are not really suitable to overwinter outdoors except in very sheltered sites.
  • To protect plants growing outdoors to avoid damage to fronds, put a handful of straw in the crown and fold the fronds in on themselves.
  • Container-grown plants in milder areas should be placed in a sheltered position and the container wrapped in horticultural fleece from late October. More substantial wrapping is needed if you have a more exposed garden.
  • Remove wrapping in spring, before new fronds come into growth.
  • In cold gardens tree ferns are best lifted and brought into a conservatory or greenhouse.
Delivery Information

Please allow us 3-5 working days to dispatch your order. Pre-ordered items will be sent as soon as possible after the date quoted and we'll generally ship your entire order with your pre-ordered items. When your order is dispatched, we'll send you another email with details of how to track it.

Most orders are sent on a fully-tracked courier service with Yodel. To avoid perishable items being stuck at depots and deteriorating, no signature is required, and our courier is asked to leave your order in a safe place on your property.

We'll send a tracking link when we dispatch your order, so you know when its due to arrive. Please note, once delivered we cannot be held responsible for loss or theft from your property. If you have any specific delivery instructions, please let us know - there's an option to enter a short message for the courier at the checkout.

Smaller, lighter, single-item orders may be sent through the post with Royal Mail - in which case no tracking is available.

Our experienced nursery team will always send your plants nursery fresh in the perfect condition to thrive when you plant them, so although most plants are very tough and will not be affected by all but the most extreme frosts or heatwaves, we avoid dispatching the most perishable plants if extreme weather is forecast, or over Bank Holiday weekends.

Please note, we cannot guarantee delivery on a certain day or time. Delivery to outlying postcode areas may take 1-2 days longer, dependent on your location.

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1. If you're not totally happy with your order, return it within 30 days and we'll replace or refund in full!
2. Should any hardy plant fail to thrive thereafter, we'll replace free of charge - you just pay the P&P
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