I ordered this tree fern from a nursery in Hawaii (Suncatchers of Hilo) in January. It was shipped dried and barerooted and was planted i...Read Moremmediately when it arrived in January.
After just under 17 weeks in a shady spot, and being watered twice daily and fed with diluted fish emulsion, it is starting to grow and is developing a new crozier (fiddlehead).
I remember back in the 70's when they were sold here as rooted trunks.Breathtakingly graceful plants. In August 2005, I received a one ga...Read Morellon plant that quickly had every frond shrivel in the shift from the sellers greenhouse to my backyard where we had a dry heatwave in the 90'sF.
Today, It has regrown a full crown of fronds-including new ones in mid winter of 07-one of the coldest in history.
They look great in groups-if you get the chance....
Most of what will be said about this tree fern will be in comparison to the more common Australian tree fern, Cyathea cooperi.
<...Read Morebr />
Cibotiums are slower ferns, though still fast relative to most ferns. Unlike Cyatheas which seem to crank out leaves in rapid succession during the late spring (and then one at a time the rest of the year), Cibotium glaucum puts out 2-4 fronds quickly and then sits around for a while before sending any more 'fiddlenecks' up. The fiddlenecks, or new, unfolding fronds, are particularly attractive on these tree ferns, especially as they get larger. They are covered, as is the stem/trunk, with a thick, incredibly smooth matt of orange-brown 'hair', making these a much more 'petable' fern than the Australian variety.
The name 'glaucum' refers to the blue-green underside of the leaves.
These ferns also seem to be more sensitive to intense heat and drying out. Though they are native to Hawaii, where it is always wet and warm, they grow naturally at a higher altitude (prefering over 2000' elevation), so are not especially happy in hot, humid climates, either. They grow well along the cooler, coastal areas of the west coast.
If you have room for this fern in your garden, and you live in the right climate.. or have a cooler, moist greenhouse, I strongly recommend it.
I ordered this tree fern from a nursery in Hawaii (Suncatchers of Hilo) in January. It was shipped dried and barerooted and was planted i...Read More
I remember back in the 70's when they were sold here as rooted trunks.Breathtakingly graceful plants. In August 2005, I received a one ga...Read More
Most of what will be said about this tree fern will be in comparison to the more common Australian tree fern, Cyathea cooperi.
<...Read More