What is the family of tree ferns?
Tree ferns are primarily members of the families Cyatheaceae (five genera) and Dicksoniaceae (three genera) in the division Polypodiophyta. Hypotheses on the classification of tree ferns have evolved as new species and new information on the relationships between genera have been discovered.
What is a tree fern?
Alternative Title: Cyatheales. Tree fern, any of a group of relatively primitive ferns in the order Cyatheales, most of them characterized by ascending trunklike stems and an arborescent (treelike) habit. Tree ferns are conspicuous plants of humid tropical forests around the world.
What are the two main families of tree ferns?
In addition to the two main families given above, the tree ferns include a few small peripheral relatives: Metaxyaceae, Cibotiaceae, Loxomataceae, Culcitaceae, Plagiogyriaceae, and Thyrsopteridaceae. The most obvious morphological difference between the two larger families is in their leaves. Instead of scales, Dicksoniaceae leaves are covered by ...
Why are tree ferns so rare?
A number of tree ferns have become quite rare as a result of overcollection by humans. The root mantle on the trunk has been a commercial source of “orchid bark,” a fibrous nonrotting substrate for cultivating orchids and other epiphytic plants.
When did tree ferns become common?
Members of both Cyatheaceae and Dicksoniaceae appear to have been diverse and relatively common during the succeeding Jurassic Period (199.6 to 145.5 million years ago) and Cretaceous Period (145.5 to 65.5 million years ago). However, the modern genera only become evident during the early Cenozoic (65.5 to 2.6 million years ago). Thus, the tree ferns apparently were affected by the mass extinction event recorded across nearly all groups of organisms at the close of the Cretaceous Period, which opened ecological niches for another period of diversification.
How tall are ferns?
Although tree ferns account for only a small percentage of ferns, many are conspicuous members of a forest, attaining heights of 7 to 10 metres (23 to 33 feet); some are 15, 18, or occasionally 24 metres tall (49, 59, or 79 feet). These graceful trees,…
What is the growing tip of a sori?
The growing tip produces a cluster of often highly divided leaves that may reach several metres in length. The sori often have a membranous protective covering ( indusium ), which can take various forms, including umbrella-shaped, kidney-shaped, and globose. The spores are globose and trilete.
What is a Tree Fern?
Tree ferns are true ferns. Like other ferns, they never flower or produce seeds. They reproduce from spores that grow on the undersides of the fronds or from offsets.
What is an Australian tree fern?
Image by ilviaggiatore. Australian tree ferns add tropical appeal to your garden. They look especially nice growing beside a pond where they create the atmosphere of an oasis in the garden. These unusual plants have a thick, straight, woolly trunk topped with large, frilly fronds.
How to grow offsets?
You can also pot up the offsets that grow at the base of mature trees. Remove them carefully and plant them in a large pot. Bury the base just deep enough to hold the plant upright.
Do ferns need humidity?
They need a climate with high humidity to keep the fronds and trunk from drying out. Tree ferns are available as containerized plants or as lengths of trunk. Transplant containerized plants at the same depth as in their original contained. Plant lengths of trunk just deep enough to keep them stable and upright.
Can you grow tree ferns indoors?
In areas that get lots of frost, grow tree fern in containers that you can bring indoors for winter.
Can Spaeropteris cooperii take frost?
Spaeropteris cooperii needs a frost-free environment, but here are some fern tree types that can take a little frost:
Can ferns grow in full sun?
Planting Tree Ferns. Growing conditions for tree ferns include moist, humus-rich soil. Most prefer partial shade but a few can take full sun. The species vary on their climate requirements, with some needing a frost-free environment while others can tolerate a light to medium frost.
How tall do cyathea trees grow?
Some trees are known to reach as high as 6ft, and some of the popular types are the Cyathea and Dicksonia. Both of these trees both grow slowly, and they also have distinctive trunk shape growing at an average of 1-2 inches every year.
How to protect fronds of plants growing outside?
A good recommendation would be to place some straw on the crown and fold the fronds as well. More so, you might also consider the container grown plants, which should be placed in a location with sufficient shelter and with the container bubble wrapped.
Why do fronds fail to grow?
This is mainly caused due to a lack of water and optimal ecosystem conditions. In this case, ensure that the tree the appropriate basic needs for optimal development.
What is a tree fern?
Tree ferns are some of the most elegant and beautiful plants for your unique property development needs. In most cases, these ferns tend to have a tree-like design which comprises of a thick and large trunk with spreading lance-shaped fronds at the top section. Some trees are known to reach as high as 6ft, and some of the popular types are ...
What temperature does a tree fern grow?
In fact, according to the U.S Department of Agriculture rates its hardiness levels at 8 to 11, and it can thrive at temperatures that range in between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
What type of soil do ferns like?
More so, the ferns can also grow in various types of soil conditions including sandy, clay, and loam, but the most preferable are growing in rich and moist soil with humus. While the tree ferns love the shade in general, they also tend to survive well in conditions with medium shade to locations that have full sun.
How to propagate ferns?
Therefore, the simplest technique to propagate the tree ferns would be to use the offsets. Simply put, these are the young plants that grow the trunk and the roots. More so, the offsets develop gradually, so you might consider leaving them to mature until they can be easy to handle. Following this, consider the following steps:
What is the name of the evergreen tree fern?
Dicksonia fibrosa – an evergreen tree fern that grows to 6m, with dark green, fronds up to 2m long. Cyathea australis – these evergreen tree ferns are slightly more tender and may lose their fronds in colder areas.
What is Dicksonia Antarctica?
Dicksonia antarctica – one of the hardier tree ferns. It works well when combined with other ferns and shade tolerant plants, or in an exotic planting scheme. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
How big is a tree fern?
Plant size. 6m height. 5m spread. Tree ferns are not actually trees, but with their tall ‘trunks’ and dramatic crown of fronds, they do look very tree-like. The trunk is actually a mat of fibrous aerial roots that need to be kept moist.
Do you water ferns?
It’s important to water your tree fern regularly, making sure the crown and the trunk are kept moist . The fronds may get battered and unsightly over the season, and older fronds will brown and die. However, you can use these old fronds to wrap over the crown to protect it from frost in winter.
Can ferns be propagated?
Like all ferns, tree ferns can be propagated by spores, but being such slow-growing plants, it’s a very long-term project.
Is a tree fern hardy?
It’s classed as half hardy but will grow in the UK and tolerate quite cold temperatures. Tree ferns are very slow growing and work particularly well in urban spaces, where they look good against hard surfaces and look particularly striking in shady courtyards.
Can ferns grow in containers?
Tree ferns can be grown in borders or containers and need a damp, shady, sheltered spot, out of direct sunlight and neutral to acid soil. They grow well in boggy conditions near water too.
How tall is a tree fern?
Also known in its native country as the lacy tree fern because of its delicate fronds, the Australian tree fern is a tropical giant whose trunk can reach a height of 15 or even 30 feet.
Where to plant Australian tree fern?
Great for shaded gardens in South and Central Florida or well-protected areas farther north , Australian tree fern truly shines. For a tropical oasis look, plant by a pool or small pond where the interesting canopy can be reflected beautifully in the water.
Is Cyathea cooperi a synonym?
The Atlas of Florida Plants accepts Sphaeropteris cooperi (and treats Cyathea cooperi as a synonym); we generally try to follow the Atlas, since this is the most comprehensive and accessible source on plants that are native or naturalized in Florida.
Can Australian tree ferns be grown outside?
In South and Central Florida, Australian tree fern can be grown outside ; farther north it should be grown in an area where it is protected from the cold. A note about this fern: the soft fronds have hair-like structures that will cling to your clothes and skin if you contact them.
Is Australian fern good for Florida?
Australian tree fern needs an area that is shaded and has well- drained soil. As with all ferns, this plant performs best when it is kept moist. Other than an occasional irrigation during dry times and the removal of spent, lower fronds, Australian tree fern should be regarded as a low-maintenance plant worth a place in Florida landscapes.
Do ferns have spores?
As old fronds fall off, distinctive coin-shaped spots will form on the trunk. Like all ferns, these plants reproduce by spores which are found on the undersides of the mature leaves. In South and Central Florida these ferns are evergreen.
What are the croziers of ferns?
Croziers of several different tree ferns (from left to right and top to bottom): Cyathea cooperi (photo by Cretaceous), Dicksonia antarctica (photo by Cretaceous), Angiopteris and Sadleria (photo by Cretaceous) The leaves, or fronds, are further divided up into leaflets, which arise in a very symmetrical pattern from the rachis or central leaf ...
How tall can Cyathea cooperi get?
Cyathea cooperi is by far the most commonly grown species throughout the world- this is an Australian species that is fairly fast growing and can get up to nearly 30 feet tall.
What is the name of the tree fern that grows in Southern California?
Less commonly encountered but successfully grown Cyatheas in southern California include Cyathea brownii (a huge species that can grow up to 100’ in its native Australia), Cyathea dregei (probably the most cold hardy of the tree ferns), Cyathea dealbata, Cyathea tomentosissima, Cyathea australis ( C. cooperis are commonly misidentified as this), Cyathea princeps (one of the most beautiful but finicky species), Cyathea amaragarensis and Cyathea spinulosa.
How do ferns reproduce?
Ferns reproduce via spore formation. Spores are the nearly microscopic structures that form within darkened structures (sori or sporangia) on the undersides of mature fronds. If the plant is being grown in ideal conditions (for example, similar to its environment of origin) the spores may germinate in the surrounding soil and form new microscopic tree ferns. However, in most environments unlike those the plants came from, this is very unlikely to happen, and special steps need be taken if one wants to grow ferns from spore. But that is a discussion for another article. For more information on taking care of ferns and talking to those that grow a lot of ferns, visit the American Fern Society webpage.
What is a short fern?
The ‘short’ tree ferns: Blechnum is a genus of fern which has a few species that develop into small ‘trees’, or at least single-stem plants that looks like bonsai trees. The most commonly grown of these is Blechnum gibbum, the Silver Lady fern. It is a not a very cold hardy species, defoliating at or around 27F.
How many species of Cyathea are there?
Cyathea- This is the largest family of tree ferns and there far too many species to touch upon here. Only 7 to 10 are ‘common’ in cultivation and considered cold hardy, while the rest are far too tropical in their requirements to be grown anywhere but in the tropics. Only 3 or 4 of the hardy species are likely to be encountered by most casual tropical plant collectors.
How to protect trees from cold?
Cold protection ranges from planting trees against buildings, under other trees or in other protected microclimates, to keeping them in pots and moving them indoors. Some will dig up their plants each fall and overwinter them in burlap. Still others wrap in various protective materials like bubble wrap, heavy blankets etc. For more on cold protections techniques, visit the Cold Hardy Tree fern page: http://www.angelfire.com/bc/eucalyptus/treeferns/tfprotection.html . This is an excellent web site for all sorts of information on tree fern cultivation, by the way.
How much sun does an Australian tree fern need?
Although Australian tree ferns are shade-loving plants in general, they can also thrive in partial sun or full sun locations where they get over six hours of light a day. Keep in mind, the more direct light the plant receives, the more likely it is that you'll need to increase your watering cadence.
How long does it take for a tree fern to grow?
The trunk of the Australian tree fern starts out as a low, wide clump and spreads as much as six feet in a year before growing upward into a single slender trunk covered in glossy, ginger-brown hairs.
How tall does a fern grow?
Typically, when we think of ferns, we picture plants such as painted ferns ( Athyrium niponicum), which achieve a mature height of just 18 inches. But in its native habitat of Australia, it can grow up to 25 feet or more.
Where do Australian tree ferns grow?
Australian Tree Fern Care. Australian tree ferns thrive in mid-elevation tropical environments, where they can sometimes be found growing in great, prehistoric forests swathed in tepid mist. The key to growing a healthy Australian tree fern is to provide it with ample humidity and consistency.
What temperature do Australian tree ferns like?
Australian tree ferns like a consistently warm and humid environment, with temperatures ranging from 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Australian tree ferns do not acclimate well to rapid changes in humidity or temperature, which can result in browning fronds.
Where can I find Australian tree ferns?
They're mostly grown as large, potted ornamentals in the United States and, when they are grown outdoors, are found mainly in public gardens and arboretums in tropical or semi-tropical zones. The plant has also naturalized itself in Hawaii, where it's regarded as invasive due to its fast growth and prolific self-propagation.
Can Australian tree ferns get mites?
While the Australian tree fern doesn't have any major issues with diseases or pests, it can be hit by the occasional bought of mites or mealybugs. Try first removing the infestation with strong sprays of water; if that doesn't work, treat the plant with neem oil or an insecticide until all signs of infestation have gone.
What are the different types of ferns?
There are two major types of tree ferns that are available commercially – the Dicksonia species ferns and the Cyathea species ferns . There are other upright varieties of fern that are sometimes called tree ferns, such as the Cibotium and Sadleria species (including the Mexican and Hawaiian tree ferns), but these are not so widely available.
How much does a Tasmanian tree fern cost?
Tasmanian tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica) are the commonest variety and you can expect to pay around $50 per foot of trunk. Specialist nurseries can supply a wider range of varieties and sizes of tree fern that range from around $15 for a plant that has just begun to develop a trunk, up to $1000 for a fully grown fern that tops 10 feet. The cheapest way to buy a tree fern is as spores, but it requires expertise and patience to cultivate a specimen to a satisfying height and spread.
What happens when spores are scattered?
When spores are scattered onto moist soil, they can grow into infertile structures known as gametophytes. These tiny structures release sperm cells into the thin layer of water on the surface of the soil, which must make their way to the egg cells elsewhere on the gametophytes to trigger fertilization. In effect, the “pollination” of spores happens on wet surfaces after the spores have been “sown”. Only once the gametophytes have been fertilized will a new fernling (or sporophyte) begin to form.
What is the determinant of cost for tree ferns?
The main determinant of cost for tree ferns is the age of the plant and the height it has reached. The best illustration of this is for Dicksonia antarctica which can be supplied in a wide variety of sizes.
How long does it take for a tree fern to grow?
For those on a budget, the trade off for reduced cost is time. Newly established tree ferns will take a long time – years or even decades – to reach an impressive height. During this period, careful cultivation is also needed, to protect the plant against cold spells and to ensure that the trunk is regularly watered.
How much does it cost to plant a tree fern?
To achieve this, a 4 to 5 foot plant would be ideal, as it adds immediate height and spread. This is likely to set you back $150-200.
Is buying fern spores a false economy?
This process is more fiddly and unreliable than planting seeds, and so should be approached with the right expectations. Buying tree fern spores may prove a false economy if those spores fail to fertilize and germinate.
What is the best fern to grow in the Pacific Northwest?
The two tree fern species you are most likely to encounter in Pacific Northwest gardens and nurseries are Cyathea cooperi (sold as the 'Australian tree fern') and Dicksonia antarctica (sold as the 'Tasmanian tree fern' ('Tasmanian' is a bit misleading since this species grows throughout the mainland of temperate southeast Australia also). Cyathea cooperi is relatively easy to find, very fast growing, and fun to grow; but it is not really hardy here, and cannot be expected to survive a severe winter without heavy protection. Dicksonia antarctica is hardy enough to grow here with basic protection methods. The fronds of this species will survive temperatures down to about 20°F before they are severely damaged. It usually grows about 1 inch of trunk per year, but it can be compelled to grow 2 inches per year under good conditions, ultimately achieving a height of 20' or higher. The fronds have a coarse, leathery texture; and the upper trunk and fronds have reddish brown hairs. If the fronds are lost in the winter, it will produce a whole new 'flush' of fronds at once in the spring, as long as the crown has not been killed by freezing. (Heavy feeding can encourage this.) I would recommend this species as an excellent tree fern for gardeners wishing to introduce themselves to tree ferns, since it is relatively easy to grow and not too difficult to find in nurseries.
What is the difference between a tree fern and a garden fern?
The obvious, significant difference between a tree fern and an ordinary garden fern is the presence of a trunk that reaches high into the sky, holding the fronds (the name for fern leaves) high at the top. The tree fern trunk has a very different structure than that of our usual woody plants and trees.
How to protect ferns from winter?
A common protection method is to put sawdust or pine mulch (or something similar) into the crown, and wrap the trunks with fiberglass insulation. Young plants with little trunk can simply be covered with some kind of insulative mulch and/or blankets.
Which ferns do not form trunks?
The fifth species, C. colensoi, is very cold hardy but does not usually form much of a trunk. New Zealand also contains many other large and interesting ferns that do not form trunks, and a few trunk forming species of Blechnum. Mass planting of Dicksonia antarctica at Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.
How long does it take for a fern to grow a trunk?
In most cases, the trunk starts to appear about one to three years after the fern is planted from a three or five gallon pot.
Where can I find C. cunninghamii?
C. cunninghamii is a montane relative of C. medullaris that occurs in both Australia and New Zealand, where it is found occasionally in sheltered gullies. It is a very large fern that may reach 60' tall or more in the wild! Although hardier than C. medullaris, it is very rare in cultivation. It demands a cool, shady situation, but it is very fast growing, and holds promise for Pacific Northwest tree fern enthusiasts.
What does a frond look like?
The fronds have a coarse, leathery texture; and the upper trunk and fronds have reddish brown hairs . If the fronds are lost in the winter, it will produce a whole new 'flush' of fronds at once in the spring, as long as the crown has not been killed by freezing. (Heavy feeding can encourage this.)
