I have a Cyathea Cooperi Tree Fern and a Dicksonia Antarctica Tree Fern in my tropical garden, but both of those ferns are only 2 feet tall. This tree fern is 12 feet tall and where will I plant it. My neighbors gave me this Australian Tree Fern for free to make space for a shed in their backyard. But is it a Cyathea or a Dicksonia.
I bought a Cyathea Cooperi for $38 at my local nursery but the summer heat is drying out the fronds. So I bought a Dicksonia Antarctica at Lowes for only $9.98, it seemed like a bargain, I planted the Dicksonia in the shade so that I wouldn't have the same problem with my other tree fern.
My neighbor offered me their tree fern and left it on my driveway. I was shocked at how large it was. It measured 16 feet tall, but by the time I planted it, it was 12 feet tall because I dug a 20 inch hole and the fronds began to droop.
I had the perfect spot where some Musa Basjoo bananas died from too much water from my drainpipe during the rainy season. The roots and corms were rotted so I cut them down. I had to move a Yellow Cannova Canna Lily to make a spot for the tree fern.
We shoved it in the hole without any regard for the position of the tree fonds and got lucky that they were in the perfect position. I watered the crown and the trunk. The trunk is made up of a mass of roots. My neighbors didn't know what type of tree fern it was. After some googling, I believe it is a Cyathea because of the circular marks on the trunk cause by the fronds being removed from the tree fern.
I love the Australian Tree Fern it looks great in my garden. I can't wait to see how it grows for the rest of this summer.
Music
Airborne by Quincas Moreira
