Dicksonia antarctica

Dicksonia antarctica.
Left - a group of Dicksonias growing in the Tree Fern Valley in the Tropic of Henstead. Commonly know as the Tree Fern this fantastic plant looks way too exotic to grow in our climate, but is in fact quite hardy. In most places in the UK it needs no protection at all, losing its leaves at the worst and growing a new set in one glorious flush the following spring. This can be a spectacular, simultaneous unfurling of up to 30 new fronds, or Croziers as the un - rolling leaves are called.
Right - although there are no Dicksonias in Antarctica their natural habitat is in southern Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand where they grow mostly in woodland situations, in areas of high humidity and in some locations experience frost and snow.
Great frosty photo courtesy of emagen on flick.com, see their link on our Resources Page.

Left - these 2 Dicksonias are growing in the garden at West Lodge Guest House. The plant in the foreground was recently planted and the one in the background has been there for 3 years resulting in the different sizes of the crowns. Plants with tall trunks are common in the nursery trade now but some specimens handle the extrcation from the wild and transplanting better than others, the plant in the foreground will soon recover though and have a crown comparable to the plant behind within a few seasons.
Right - The croziers are fragile at first and easily broken, but as each leaf reaches its full length they toughen up. If you have a tree fern in a pot you must be careful to keep its alignment to the sun the same throughout the leaf growing process, if it is turned around the leaves will become 'confused' and twist around to re orientate themselves to the light, making the leaves look deformed. Their fibrous trunks are capable of absorbing water, acting as a mass of arial roots, which is partly why they are so easy to transplant form a mature specimen growing in the ground; the trunk is simply sawn off at the required height, the growing tip is at the top of the plant and is not disturbed, it can be supplied by the roots in the trunk and re grow roots easily when re planted.
Loveley photo courtesy of emagen on flickr.com, see their link on our Resources Page.

Left - one of the advantages of being able to buy mature specimens with developed trunks is that you can get a different view of the plant and recreate it's natural habitat of woodland where you would be looking up into the canopy of foliage. Many plants were removed from the wild recently causing some controversy but governments in the countries of origin have largley stopped the irresponsible removal and now make sure that plants are kept in nurseries for a season before being sold. This has made the business less attractive to non horticultual interests and the certification tags on the trunks of plants should ensure that the plants were responibly taken from the wild, from areas that are being cleared for agriculture. 
Right - although tree ferns are happy in shade they will adapt and grow well in full sun, and if there is a plentiful supply of water they will grow fronds just as large as in woodland conditions. They are also great providers of shade as seen here with hostas and other ferns benefiting from the wide spreading crown.
Great photos courtesy of emagen on flickr.com, see their link on our Resources Page.