Australian Tree Ferns

Australian Tree Ferns have fronds raised up from the ground by trunks. The fronds create a canopy or shelter space that shades other plants. They are a distinctive plant that creates a tropical and prehistoric setting in a garden or patio. Australian Tree Ferns, as sold in the United States, include the following species: Cyathea australis, Cyathea cooperi, and Dicksonia antarctica. For more information about Australian Tree Ferns, please contact FogCityPlants@gmail.com

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Tasmanian Tree Fern -- Medium Size

Monday, March 24, 2014

Two story tall cyatheas....!

Next to an older home in alameda, California

Monday, March 10, 2014

Cyathea Cooperi 'Brentwood'

A faster growing variety of Australian tree fern, distinctive from other varieties by the 'coin spots' on the trunks of mature specimens, where the older fronds have fallen off.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Medium Sized Australian Tree Ferns

Tree Fern Frond and Crozier Details

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

New Zealand Tree Ferns at the Sunnyside Conservatory in southern San Francisco

These Dicksonia tree ferns have grown well over many decades in location on the side of a building and fence, away from bright sun, and protected from the wind.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Unusual Tree Ferns -- Another Twin Trunk Tree Fern

Attached are two foto graphs of another twin trunk tree fern. The first shows the tree fern -- in this case, Dicksonia Antarctica -- from the horizontal perspective, viewing the double trunk. The trunk appears extra wide from this perspective.

The second foto show the same tree fern from above, looking down at the foliage of the fern fronds.

From this perspective, the fern appears both attractive and distinctive. The fern has grown to have fern fronds that overlap and so result in a more cover of the rest of the plant and the ground. It does not appear that the growth pattern has kept the fronds from unfurling. In fact, the overlapping fronds seem to produce a denser canopy of protection.

The denser canopy could have several results. First, it could capture more light and allow for less light to filter into the understory of the canopy. Second, the canopy could capture more water and moisture as well as hold moisture underneath more effectively. The denser canopy may in fact channel rainwater to the (double) crown in a more effective manner. Third, the temperature (in addition to relative humidity) below the canopy may be different from that of a single trunk tree fern.

All of these possibilities could be measured. If true, the result would be a different environment under the canopy. The fronds themselves do not appear from the top view to be negatively affected in term s of their appearance. In other words, they appear as healthy as other tree fern fronds.

The result could be a more healthy overall tree fern, and also a different growing environment for both younger ferns below the canopy and other plants. These possibilities could also be scientifically measured and tested.

To the eye, the fern is distinctive and appealing !

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Unusual Tree Ferns -- Development with a Double Trunk

This is the first entry related to a tree fern obtained today from a local nursery that I noted had a'double-trunk' or 'twin trunk'. Having looked at a lot of tree ferns in the past few weeks, I noticed this unusual characteristic while examining the crown of the tree fern for overall appearance and health.

I am intrigued by how this plant developed a twin trunk. It is the first that I have noticed here in the San Francisco Bay Area, though it is possible that I may have overlooked it before on another plant. This plant is a Dicksonia Antarctica, which is slower growing than the Cyathea plants. As a result, there are fewer plants in the stores with trunks large enough for a twin trunk to be noticeable. It is possible that other smaller, younger Dicksonia have the same attribute, but since the trunk is smaller it is less noticeable.

In an online web search, I found some discussion of this situation on a gardening website based in the UK. There are probably more gardeners with Dicksonia plants in London than in the sf Bay Area. So the chances of this coming up in the sf area may just be statistically less. If any readers have some experience with this, can you please comment or send me an email so that we might correspond and share experience ?

In profile, it looks like a single trunk...

...but it is definitely a twin trunk !

Well, at this time, I have more questions....

(1) does a twin trunk indicate two plants or is it one plant?

There is some debate on the uk site, with some suggesting that this is two seedlings that sprouted close together. There seemed to be another possibility that it may be a plant that started out from one seedling, and that at some point the trunk divided in two.

(2) is it better for the health of the plant to keep it as is, or at some point to separate the trunks ?

Some suggested in uk that it looks better separated, and that a twin trunk plant would have croziers from one side unfurling into an existing from from the other side. Are these more aesthetic issues that we as observers might be imposing on a plant that might just continue to grow in some way?

(3) what will the plant look like if it continues to grow with this element ?

It seems possible that a twin trunk plant could grow so with a symmetry that would be aesthetically pleasing. Would the two sides compete with each other, until one side becomes larger than the other?

(4) is there some advantage that a twin trunk plant might have in a 'wild' natural environment?

Here in Northern California, we are accustomed to seeing something similar especially with redwood trees. In fact, redwoods grow a 'family' in a circle often, with the trunks connected to one another sometimes. So would there be some reproductive advantage or added resiliency to such a plant?

At this time, I plan to observe the growth pattern of the twin trunk Dicksonia, and document it with fotos and notes here on this website. Please stay tuned for more entries on this story. And thanks for your interest in this topic !

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Sunday Specialized Plant Tours in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park

Fog City Plants is pleased to announce our Winter 2014 season of Sunday Specialized Plant Tours in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. These tours begin on Sundays at 1:00 pm in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, and last about 45 minutes. Please be prepared to walk and to take pictures of beautiful plants !

The topics of the Specialized Plant Tours for the Winter 2014 season are:

(1) Blooming Camellia Trees and Bushes in Golden Gate Park

(2) South African and Australian Protea Plants in the San Francisco Botanical Garden

(3) Palm Trees and Tree Ferns in Golden Gate Park

Please stay tuned for more information about these specialized plant tours, including specific dates for each of the three specialized plant tours. For inquires and questions, please contact FogCityPlants@gmail.com

Thank you for your interest !

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Tree Ferns complement other plants in the fern forest

The Tree Fern fits into the fern forest setting with 'dinosaur plants' (gunners chilensis), water loving lilies, and other smaller ferns --in this case, a chain fern and a sword fern.

Tree Ferns in a prehistoric 'dinosaur garden' for children

Some children will enjoy an imaginary 'dinosaur world' created by the fern forest. Children of all ages can appreciate the 'other-worldly' character of the pre-historic looking fern forest.

Tree Ferns at the center of a fern forest

Smaller Tree Ferns can be the center of a fern forest section of the garden. This Australian Tree Fern is smaller than the calla lily at planting, but will grow to be the tallest plant in the fern forest. Under good conditions, the trunk of the tree fern can grow more than one foot per year in height.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Video Showing How Tree Fern Fronds Unfurl over time

This is a great video of an Australian Tree Fern growing, time-lapse at a speed that we humans can observe and appreciate !

http://vimeo.com/24487172