Tree Fern ID

[Taz334]

Hi, wonder if anyone can help. My parents have this tree fern but we are not sure what type it is. It seems different to the Dicksonia antarctica's we have. Have a couple of pics hopefully they are clear enough. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[pdid]

I'd hazard a guess at dicksonia fibrosa, but it would be a guess. Someone else will be along to confirm or shoot me down soon!

[GREVILLE]

I think fibrosa has the edge, too.

[Taz334]

Thanks for the quick replies. They would really like another one but had no idea what it was so they will be pleased. Had a quick search on the Internet to find out a bit more about them too now I had an idea what it was.

[greendragon]

Fibrosa is basically the crappe version of antarctica

[fern Rob]

Judging from the trunk it is D Fibrosa.
It is a rare plant to find now in the UK has they are hard to export from NewZealand.
In my opinion they are a aesthetically pleasing tree fern and much slimmer trunk, the fronds are normally a much deeper green and shorter than Dicksonia antarctica plus have the sponge like look on the trunk.
I think it will be hard to find an other DFibrosa but worth buying if you can.

[Taz334]

Thanks so it may be a bit of a hunt to get another one!! I've always liked it and it seems to grow away quite happily with little looking after.

[fern Rob]

Thanks so it may be a bit of a hunt to get another one!! I've always liked it and it seems to grow away quite happily with little looking after.

The D Fibrosa is a great plant. I can think of a few nerseries that may be able to source one.

[Half Hardy]

I'd hazard a guess at dicksonia fibrosa, but it would be a guess. Someone else will be along to confirm or shoot me down soon!

I agree with you.It is D.fibrosa

Greendragon,I disagree with you

Here is my one, pic. taken today.It has never needed more than just a ball of fleece in the crown,to protect on the worst days of winter,inc 2010.The fronds you see are still last years,even after this long winter(with no protection),the second picture shows a crown full of knuckles about to flush.A common D.Antarctica's fronds would be too large to fit in my courtyard.

[Tom2006]

Certainly looks like a nice Fibrosa. Always fancied trying one, but a rooted one at that size is hard to come by.

Half Hardy, what happened to the trunk of yours?

[multim]

Yup, I would say Fibrosa. I had a good one with 4ft of trunk, but the Winter of 2009/10 turned it to mush even with wrapping. I would say minus 8c is about it's limit. In Cornwall, sure these will do better, but not inland when Winters such as 2009 remained sub-zero day and night.

[Half Hardy]

Certainly looks like a nice Fibrosa. Always fancied trying one, but a rooted one at that size is hard to come by.

Half Hardy, what happened to the trunk of yours?

This is the earliest pic. I could find,taken just after it was planted out, in may 2008.Up until then it was kept in a pot.
So must be the differnt growing condition.It was also about the time I started watering with dilute seaweed.

Edit......Looking at the picture now,the thinner part of the trunk was already showing before I planted it.The nursery I bought it from kept it in a greenhouse.I would guess it would have grown,faster but less stocky at this time.

[fern Rob]

How much trunk as the D Fibrosa grown ?

[Half Hardy]

How much trunk as the D Fibrosa grown ?

Just measured it.Difficult to say exactly,roughly 50cm(19.5 inches).It looks like it will add a decent amount more,this year.

[fern Rob]

D Fibrosa are a really good fern, I wish I could get a descent sized one.