Plant Tasmanian tree fern at the same depth it sat in the pot, or set a sawn trunk just deep enough to stand. Tasmanian tree fern is Dicksonia. Do not bury the crown, and do not plant a scaly Cyathea log and wait for roots.
Plant a nursery plant at the same depth it sat in the pot
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Spring after frost, or any month you can keep the root ball or the log wet | Do not plant into dry ground you cannot water, or just before a hard freeze |
| Depth | Set a potted plant at the same depth it sat in the pot, with the crown above the soil | Do not bury the growing point |
| Log | Soak a sawn trunk, then plant just enough of it to stand | Do not bury most of the trunk, and do not plant a Cyathea log |
| Room | Leave about 8 to 12 feet for the crown to arch | Do not tuck it under a tight eave that will shred the fronds |
Choose a shady, sheltered strip with moist soil that still drains. Dig a hole as deep as the pot and a little wider. Mix compost or leaf mold into the backfill so the soil holds water without turning to mud. [1] Set the plant at the same depth it sat in the pot. Keep the crown above the soil. Water to settle, mulch to hold moisture, and keep the mulch off the crown.
- Choose shade with room for an 8 to 12 foot crown, out of hot midday sun and drying wind.
- Dig a hole as deep as the pot and a little wider. Mix compost into the backfill.
- Set the plant at nursery depth, with the crown above the soil. Do not bury extra trunk to make it look taller.
- Water to settle, mulch the soil, and keep the first weeks moist. Then continue on How to Grow Tasmanian Tree Fern.
When should I plant Tasmanian tree fern?
Plant in spring after frost when you can water by hand. In a frost-free garden you can plant whenever the root ball or the log will stay wet.
How deep do I set a potted plant?
Set it at the same depth it sat in the pot, with the crown above the soil. Do not bury the growing point.
Plant a sawn trunk just deep enough to stand
Nurseries sometimes sell this fern as a cut trunk with no fronds. Soak the base, then plant only enough of the trunk to keep it upright. Water the top of the trunk every day until new fronds unfurl. That can take several weeks. [2] [3] A scaly Australian tree fern will not root this way. Read the tag for Dicksonia antarctica before you buy a log.
- Read the tag for Dicksonia, not Cyathea or Sphaeropteris.
- Soak the base of the trunk in water until it is wet through.
- Set just enough of the trunk in the hole or pot so the plant stands. Do not bury most of the trunk.
- Water the top of the trunk every day until new fronds show, unless rain is doing that job.
How do I plant a sawn trunk?
Soak the base, plant just enough of the trunk to stand, and water the top every day until new fronds unfurl. Skip a Cyathea log.
Keep the crown above the soil, and skip a scaly Cyathea log
Planting too deep is the main reason a new crown rots. A log that is buried halfway stays wet at the growing point and fails to root. A scaly Cyathea trunk will not grow roots from a cut base, so that purchase never becomes a plant. [4] Give the first weeks steady water. A frondless log can sit still for a month before the first croziers show. That wait is normal if the trunk stays damp.
Will a Cyathea log root?
No. A sawn trunk that roots is Dicksonia. Australian tree fern is Cyathea. Buy a rooted plant in a pot for that species.
Set a nursery plant at pot depth, or plant a sawn trunk just deep enough to stand, and keep it wet until new fronds show.
FAQ
Was this log harvested under license?
Wild trunks should come from a licensed harvest with an ID tag. Buy from a nursery that can show that paperwork. A potted plant grown from spores or a nursery division avoids that question.
Can I transplant a mature plant?
Yes, if you can keep the root mass and the trunk wet. Dig a wide ball, reset it at the same depth, and water until new fronds show. A tall plant is heavy; two people and a tarp help.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Royal Horticultural Society -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/ferns/tree-ferns/growing-guide - [2] Australian National Botanic Gardens -
https://anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2003/dicksonia-antarctica.html - [3] BBC Gardeners' World -
https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/dicksonia-antarctica/ - [4] San Marcos Growers -
https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=633
This note is part of Dicksonia Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors