Dicksonia Antarctica 180 6 foot

Dicksonia antarctica, the soft tree fern from the cool, moist forests of south‑eastern Australia and Tasmania, is prized for its dramatic, architectural form in shaded gardens. Over time it develops a fibrous brown trunk topped with a wide crown of gracefully arching, finely divided fronds. Best grown in partial to full shade with shelter from drying winds, it thrives in moist, humus‑rich, neutral to acid, well‑drained soil. Slow growing and long‑lived, it is ideal as a focal point in woodland and courtyard settings or for creating a lush, exotic look; in colder regions protect the crown in winter to help prevent frost damage.

This is a standard tree with a clear stem and a shaped crown above. The tree was grown up to this stem height and then pruned to stop the trunk growing taller. The clear stem will remain at the height you receive it at, with future growth coming from the top of the tree.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Partial shade to full shade

Rate of Growth: Slow

Soil: Moist, humus-rich, neutral to acid, well-drained soil

Hardiness: Hardy in mild areas; protect the crown in cold winters

Plant at a Glance