San Francisco, CA (Zone 10a) | July 2009 | positive
Cyathea medullaris is a stunningly attractive tree fern. In San Francisco it is very fast growing. The one in my garden grew from 4 ft ...Read Morehigh to 15 ft high and 15 ft wide in only 3 years!
Cyathea medullaris leaves die back completely at approx -4.0 degrees celcius. I live in zone 9a - 9b ( -5.0 degrees minimum, in New Zeala...Read Morend where this is native to this country, and the leaves on both my Cyathea medullaris die back completely. They grow back in the spring. But in warmer parts of New Zealand the leaves survive the winter. New Zealands climate zones range from approx: 8a -10b, with low heat zones of: 1 - 3.
Without a doubt the greatest tree fern in cultivation.Both in looks and size and also a i feel a very fast grower for frost free cooler c...Read Morelimates on the west coast. The higher humidity allowing it to thrive. And as it grows in Fiji It can take tropical heat if,again,humidity is high. There are two forms of this fern in the trade- the more desirable black and the still large green stipe form. MAKE SURE you ask if ordering them. You might be disappointed with the blander green as seen in Pam Bobs photo in Manhattan Beach ca.
Hardy to about the mid 20's..sometimes lower if large and protected.New Zealand medullaris have taken ice and snow.NEVER allow to go dry,regular acid fertilizer,and protect from high wind. The more trunk it gets,the more water it will need. Try to plant away from tree's with greedy roots.The living trunk is a good home for mounting Orchids- no moss,just pull back a base and its held tight. Some orchids I have found don't thrive on these. D.kingianum for some reason is one.
Also has a high light need for a tree fern.Full sun in coastal gardens is best. The farther from the coast and fog, the more shade. Such a large fern, it's presence is palm tree like. An ancient elegant look.
ANother great tree fern for So Cal, but not a fast grower. Also hard to find large, so only small seedlings usually available. This is ...Read Morea biggy, though, and there are many mature examples of this tree in So Cal with over 20' of trunk. It is a great specimen tree with attractive, droopy leaves and tall, sturdy trunks. The trunk color is somewhat blackish from the hairs growing on it. This is a native of New Zealand, where many thousands of spectacular examples can be seen. There it needs full sun, but here in So Cal full sun can sometimes be hard on it. These tall tree ferns can sometimes be hard to keep happy once they get a lot of trunk. The trunk is really a modified root system and benefits greatly from being moistened frequently. Some do best if a drip system is applied to the top of the tree allowing water to drip down the trunk. Otherwise, in drier climates, they are prone to die off during droughts or hot spells. And keeping the crowns wet on hot days is difficult if the top of the tree is 'way up there'. So tall sprinklers are useful when growing lots of tree ferns. It's not that the ferns need a lot of water, but they do like to be wet most of the time.
Cyathea medullaris is a stunningly attractive tree fern. In San Francisco it is very fast growing. The one in my garden grew from 4 ft ...Read More
Cyathea medullaris leaves die back completely at approx -4.0 degrees celcius. I live in zone 9a - 9b ( -5.0 degrees minimum, in New Zeala...Read More
Cyathea medullaris is native to Fiji, Tahiti, and New Zealand.
Cyathea are listed on CITES Appendix II.
Without a doubt the greatest tree fern in cultivation.Both in looks and size and also a i feel a very fast grower for frost free cooler c...Read More
ANother great tree fern for So Cal, but not a fast grower. Also hard to find large, so only small seedlings usually available. This is ...Read More